Explore the Historic Hospital Point Light Station in Beverly, MA
Hospital Point Light Station sits at the end of Bayview Avenue in Beverly, MA. Built in 1872, the 45-foot white brick tower was constructed to guide ships safely into Salem and Beverly harbors. The name “Hospital Point” dates back to the Revolutionary War, when a smallpox hospital operated on the site. The point also served as a lookout for colonial forces guarding the coast against British incursions.
The lighthouse was one of the first to be equipped with a Fresnel lens, a technological advancement that greatly improved visibility for mariners. Uniquely, the tower was constructed as part of a larger, Queen Anne–style keeper’s house, which remains in use today. While the lighthouse was automated in 1947, the property is now the official residence of the First Coast Guard District Commander. The structure is still an active aid to navigation, continuing its original mission more than 150 years after it was first lit.
Though not open to the public year-round, the lighthouse is accessible during Beverly’s annual Homecoming Week, when guided tours of the tower offer views of the harbor and surrounding coastline. Hospital Point remains one of the few working lighthouses in New England with its original tower and attached keeper’s quarters intact. For those interested in maritime history, it’s a rare opportunity to connect with both the region’s coastal defense legacy and its long-standing maritime traditions.
Matt Lambros MA Beverly Aug 04, 2025 Architecture History Maritime
Aug 04, 2025
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