Eastern Point Lighthouse
Eastern Point Blvd, Gloucester, Massachusetts
Immortalized by landscape painter Winslow Homer and featured in the Hollywood blockbuster The Perfect Storm, the Eastern Point Lighthouse is one of New England’s most characterful and historic lighthouses. The Gloucester, Massachusetts, lighthouse is nearly 200 years old and on the National Register of Historic Places. A wildlife sanctuary flanks it and offers impressive coastal views.
The interior of the Eastern Point Lighthouse is closed to the public. Still, it remains a popular pilgrimage point to admire its 18th-century charm, soak up its dramatic seaside surroundings, and enjoy a tranquil picnic nearby. The adjacent Eastern Point Lighthouse is popular with wildlife lovers who come to spot seabirds, butterflies, and other local fauna. Intrepid types can hike the roughly .5-mile (.8-kilometer) rocky breakwater that extends from the Eastern Point Lighthouse to Dog Bar Lighthouse.
In addition to independent excursions, the Eastern Point Lighthouse can be seen on whale-watching tours departing from Gloucester and self-led audio walking tours of the Greater Boston area.
The Eastern Point Lighthouse is accessed via a private road that members of the public are allowed to use to visit the landmark.
Pets are prohibited in the surrounding Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary; camping, collecting, hunting, fishing, and feeding wildlife are also not allowed.
Because the approach to the lighthouse includes slippery rocks and uneven surfaces, it is not readily accessible for visitors with limited mobility.
The Eastern Point Lighthouse is just off Eastern Point Boulevard in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It is roughly 15 minutes by car from downtown Gloucester and 1 hour from Boston via MA-128 N. A small paid parking lot is located on-site. The only way to explore the area is on foot via permitted routes and trails.
While the Eastern Point Lighthouse is a working lighthouse that is not open to visitors, the adjacent Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary and breakwater are open to the public all year, from early morning until dusk. It’s best to visit on a good weather day and avoid attempting to navigate the rocky breakwater in wet or stormy weather.
To complement your visit to the Eastern Point Lighthouse, soak up more of Gloucester’s rich maritime history when you explore the Gloucester HarborWalk. A free-to-all trail that includes 42 granite story posts, as well as gardens, public artworks, and seaside views, it’s a fun and accessible way to learn more about Gloucester’s past.
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