National Register of Historic Places

West Chop Light Station

Tisbury, Dukes County, Massachusetts
Listed
June 14, 1987
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87001506

About this property

West Chop Light is a lighthouse station located at the entrance of Vineyard Haven Harbor in Tisbury, Massachusetts, on the northern tip of West Chop, a few miles from the village of Vineyard Haven. The first 25-foot (7.6 m) rubblestone lighthouse and dwelling were built on the bluffs of West Chop in 1817. Following constant erosion, the lighthouse was moved back in 1830, and again in 1846. The first lightkeeper was pilot James Shaw West who tended the light for thirty years, from 1818 to 1848. His pay was $350 a year. Subsequent lightkeepers were Charles West, 1849–1868; his son Charles P. West, 1869-c1909; George F. Dolby (1909–1919); James Yates (1919-?); and Octave Ponsart (1946–1956) Sam Fuller has also been mentioned as a lightkeeper. The present 45-foot (14 m) tall brick tower and dwelling were built in 1891. In 1976 West Chop Light became the last Martha's Vineyard lighthouse to be automated, but the original Fresnel lens is still in operation. The former lightkeeper's dwellings are now vacant but remains property of the U.S. Coast Guard and off limits to the public. The West Chop Light Station has been on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places since 1987.

Location

Tisbury, Dukes County, Massachusetts
41.48216, -70.60327

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTUREMARITIME HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

West Chop Club Historic District
Industrial
0.1 mi
William Street Historic District
Listed
1.9 mi
Ritter House
Industrial
2 mi
East Chop Light
Industrial
2 mi
Tashmoo Springs Pumping Station
Industrial
2.6 mi

Nearby Battles

British Raid on Martha's Vineyard
1778Revolutionary War
7.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was West Chop Light Station listed on the National Register?

West Chop Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1987.

What type of historic resource is West Chop Light Station?

West Chop Light Station is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for West Chop Light Station?

The period of significance for West Chop Light Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near West Chop Light Station?

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