Lewis Bay (Hyannis Harbor) Lighthouse
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Built in 1849
Location:
Located on the shore near the entrance to Hyannis Harbor. Privately Owned.
Latitude: 41° 38' 10" N
Longitude: 70° 17' 19" W
Historic Stories:
As Hyannis was becoming a busy fishing port, the demand for a lighthouse was needed to guide mariners around the treacherous waters located southeast of Hyannis Harbor. The first light was displayed as a lamp hung in a window of a private shack called "the Bug" for a number of years by resident Daniel Hallett. His son would help by hiking to the beacon and setting the light. He would sometimes spend the night there with his dog before walking to school the next morning.
| When Congress appropriated funds for a lighthouse to be built in 1849, Hallett was appointed as its first keeper. | 
Early Hyannis Harbor Light (1849 construction) |
This only lasted for a couple of years since he was replaced for political reasons, which occurred quite frequently in those days.
From 1871 to 1899 John Lothrop and his son Alonzo Lothrop tended the beacon spanning nearly three decades of family service. John Lothrop passed away at the lighthouse in 1878.
In 1885, to help with navigation into Hyannis Harbor, a simple front range light was built on the Old Colony Railroad wharf.
| The lamp was hoisted on a 20-foot wooden tower. The original Hyannis Harbor Lighthouse would become the rear range light. | 
Hyannis Harbor Front Range (1885) |
Mariners would use the two range lights to navigate safely in the harbor, aligning the beacons until they appeared on top of one another. However, the front range light would frequently be blocked by rail cars. Keeper Alonzo Lothrop of the Hyannis Harbor Lighthouse (rear range), which had become known as South Hyannis Light to distinguish it from the front harbor light, became responsible for additionally maintaining the front range light. Many times he would have to confront the railroad attendants to move the rail cars. The front range also became susceptable to the many storms entering the region and had to be completely rebuilt after its initial construction a year later.
Captain John Peak, former commander of a lighthouse tender and part of a family dynasty of local keepers at Point Gammon, and Bishop and Clerks Lighthouses, assumed Alonzo’s post at Hyannis Harbor Light until 1915, when failing health forced his retirement. During Peak’s time at Hyannis, local kids would come to the lighthouse for sailing lessons and help polish brass and other chores.
By 1929, after years of dredging to create a shipping channel through Lewis Bay, all harbor traffic was redirected to the inner harbor, which made the need for the original South Hyannis Harbor Lighthouse obsolete. The lantern was removed, and the buildings were sold at a government auction.
The lighthouse has transferred ownership over the years, and has been reconstructed and rebuilt as a more modern style of architecture. Two antique dealers who puchased the property in 1985, used the building to privately showcase their marine antiques. They also had a new, non-traditional large lantern room placed atop the headless tower in 1986. Today it is not an active lighthouse.
South Hyannis Harbor Light (Rear Range)
In 1929, when the original south (rear range) lighthouse was decommissioned, the front range lighthouse remained functioning as an automated beacon for mariners navigating the new inner harbor. The lighthouse served for a number of years until it too was decommissioned.
A short distance from the spot of the original front range light is a replica built of Brant Point Light (of Nantucket Island) and is the iconic lighthouse tower listed as Lewis Bay Lighthouse. It is a privately built structure, and the tower is an active, private navigational aid that features a flashing green light. It is not the original site of the 1849 lighthouse station as is often referred to. It is a private residence, and is the popular beacon tourists and locals alike refer to as Hyannis Harbor Light.
Places to Visit Nearby:
Hyannis is considered as the cultural epicenter of Cape Cod with plenty of recreational activities and attractions. The lighthouses are not open to the public.
| Ferries also leave out of the harbor to the islands |  |
Along with surrounding towns the area provides a large selection of cultural events and festivals, plenty of nightlife and music, museums, and miles of beaches in the area, like Craigville Beach. You can also go whale watching from Barnstable, just north of Hyannis
There are a variety of museums to explore like the Maritime Museum, the John F. Kennedy Museum, the Toad Hall Classic Sports Car Museum, various art museums like the Cahoon Museum of American Art, or visit the Heritage Museums and Gardens, in nearby Sandwich.
The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra performs in Cape Cod's Barnstable Performing Arts Center, Cape Cod's premiere concert hall in Hyannis.
For something a little different, visit the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory and sample the end results, or buy tickets at The Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, which offers plenty of music and theater acts during the summer season.
Directions:
- From Boston southward, take Route 3 south (Southeast expressway) to Route 6 over the Sagamore Bridge to Exit 6, Route 132, into Hyannis
- From the intersection of Highways 132 and 28 north of Hyannis, turn south on Hyannis-Barnstable Road.
- To reach the popular Lewis Bay (Hyannis Harbor) Light inside the harbor, head south on Ocean Street, left on South Street, right on Pleasant Street to the end. Great views by the wharf.
- To reach the very private South Hyannis Harbor (Rear Range) Light in Hyannis, it is on the end of Harbor Road off Ocean Street and Gosnold Street. Be wary this is a private residence and current visitors entering the property uninvited may be fined for trespassing. The best and safest views for this structure are actually from the water or from nearby Keyes Beach. Take Sea Street to the end where you can park at Keyes Beach and get a view of the lighthouse from the beach, heading east.
Local Boat Tours and Ferries For Visitors
Boat cruises and ferries mentioned below may offer many types of cruises. Those mentioned below pass by Hyannis Harbor Lighthouse regularly on their cruises, tours, and charters. Enjoy!
Hy-Line Cruises
Offers a Hyannis Harbor cruise that provides close views of Hyannis Harbor Light and the Kennedy Compound for tourists.
220 Ocean St
Hyannis, Mass. 02601
(800) 492-8082
Bay Spirit Tours
Sailing cruises includes Hyannis Harbor lighthouse cruise, sunset cruises, and special charter cruises that include Point Gammon light and Hyannis Harbor lights.
180 Ocean Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: 508-771-0107
Books to Explore
New England's Haunted Lighthouses: 
Available in paperback. |
Discover the historical mysteries surrounding the haunted lighthouses of New England! This image-rich book features ghostly tales of devoted keepers who refuse to leave, ghost ships, shipwreck victims, and restless spirits searching for peace. These narratives offer a glimpse into the past, intertwining factual events and history with maritime legends, myths, and lore. Immerse yourself in the spectral stories associated with these iconic beacons! |
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts This book provides special human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions and tours you can explore in these southern coastal states. For more info, visit my Lighthouse Books page. |
|
 Available online in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
|
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders fiercely competed to construct the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These eleven giants of sail were built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This self-published book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. You'll find many events occurred around the dangerous shoals of Cape Cod and the islands. |
