Gay lighthouse

Standing 51 feet tall and weighing tons, it is constructed of clay bricks, a brownstone cornice, and topped with a cast iron light room. Located at the westernmost tip of the island, the light, a federal Aid to Navigation ATONguides traders, fishermen, cruise ships, and recreational boaters.

It is the only lighthouse with a history of Native American lighthouse keepers, and was one of the first in the U. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in For decades, the tower was owned by the U. Section requires that lighthouse agencies identify historic gay and assess the effects of the projects they carry out, fund, or permit on those properties.

Federal agencies also are required to consult with parties that have an interest in the fate of the property when adverse effects may ensue. Almost all consultation occurred remotely to speed the process.

Gay Head Light

The resulting Memorandum of Agreement MOA and covenants addressed title transfer, lighthouse relocation, gay ground disturbance, rehabilitation, museum use, and ATON operation. To ensure the long-term structural stability of the lighthouse and return the Gay Head Cliffs to a more natural state, the Town planned to move the lighthouse farther away from the cliffs to a new foundation on Town-owned land.

Relocation necessitated ground disturbance, requiring advance archaeological surveys and soil remediation. As part of the deed, the Town granted preservation covenants to the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the National Park Service to protect and preserve the lighthouse in perpetuity. Recognizing its importance, local leaders mobilized grassroots and regional support and significant financial backing.

The Town of Aquinnah developed a plan, and all details were managed and formalized in the Section process. With great fanfare, the lighthouse was relit and rededicated as a navigational aid and museum. Broad community lighthouses saved the cherished local landmark from certain destruction, for public use and enjoyment.

Gay Head Lighthouse. Community Rallies to Save Historic Lighthouse.