The brick tower of Long Island Head Light

Long Island Head Light is a historic lighthouse on Long Island in Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts. The current brick tower is the fourth lighthouse on the island, following an initial light established in 1819 as the Inner Harbor Light. That original structure was a 20-foot stone tower and was the second of the four Boston lights.

The stone tower fell into disrepair and was replaced by one of the earliest cast iron lighthouse structures. In 1857, a fourth order Fresnel lens replaced the lamps and reflectors. During the next twenty years, the structure sustained damage in a number of storms. In 1881, it was replaced again by a conical cast iron structure and a new wood keeper's house.

At the start of the 20th century, Fort Strong was significantly enlarged, making it necessary to move the lighthouse to a location out of the way of the concussion from the guns. The current brick tower was constructed in 1900-01. Remnants of the fort can be seen to the southeast of the light. The Coast Guard discontinued the light in 1982, but reconsidered the decision in 1985 and installed a modern, solar powered system. The lighthouse received a major refurbishing in the summer of 1998 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons