Gillette Stadium Lighthouse

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A black, white, and dark blue header image with the text Gillette Stadium Lighthouse

Have you ever wanted to explore a lighthouse nowhere near a major body of water, but very close to a major league sports stadium, and learn history along the way? If you live in New England, you are in luck. Gillette Stadium Lighthouse in Foxborough, MA is just that. This addition to the recently renovated Gillette Stadium, home to the National Football League (NFL) team New England Patriots and Major League Soccer (MLS) team New England Revolution, is the tallest “lighthouse” in America, the quotes being that while the building is a lighthouse in form, it does not serve the practical purpose of a lighthouse in guiding ships to safety. Instead, LED lights at the top of the Lighthouse are “programmed to show colors and movement”, with additional lights on its side. I visited during the day when no game was happening, so the Lighthouse was unlit.

Gillette Stadium Lighthouse; a 22-story tall concrete tower attached to the glass-sided Gillette Stadium Field at Gillette Stadium; an overhead view of the soccer field and seats Field at Gillette Stadium from the Ground

A short elevator ride takes visitors directly from the lobby on the ground floor to the observation deck or Lookout at the top of the lighthouse. The entire lighthouse in 218 feet tall, about twenty-two stories in height, but the solid glass walls around the Lookout make visitors feel safe. Several of the walls have fun facts and statistics about the area. Here are the facts I found in addition to what I have already mentioned, along with my bonus information:

  • “Boston Light is the oldest staffed lighthouse in the country, dating back to 1716.” A more correct statement would be “with a foundation dating back to 1716”. The current Boston Light is the second iteration built in 1783, since Patriots destroyed the original building as part of the evacuation of British Troops during the American Revolutionary War in 1776. (I covered Evacuation Day during my trip to Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historical Site in Cambridge, MA.) The lighthouse stands on Little Brewster Island, which is part of Boston Harbor Island National Recreation Area.
    • “Boston Light is the oldest staffed lighthouse in the country, dating back to 1716.”
  • “The New England Patriots were founded in 1959, playing their first season in 1960.” This team was part of the American Football League, which operated for ten years before merging with the older NFL. This collection of teams, plus three more from the NFL, became the American Football Conference (AFC), which still exists today.
    • “The New England Patriots were founded in 1959, playing their first season in 1960.” “The New England Revolution were founded in 1995, playing their first season in 1996.”
  • “The New England Revolution were founded in 1995, playing their first season in 1996.” This soccer team is the same age as me! Foxboro Stadium had been a venue for the 1994 Men’s FIFA World Cup, which generating American interest in soccer. The Revolution holds the record for most MLS Cup championship games lost by a team, which is five over the twenty-eight seasons, and the team has never won the title. On a more positive note, in two years, Gillette Stadium will host the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup, which is expected to boost the southern New England economy.
    • “Patriot Place opened on the site of Foxboro Stadium in 2008.”
  • “Patriot Place opened on the site of Foxboro Stadium in 2008.” This ode to American consumerism covers 1.3 million square feet with a level of concrete comparable to Hoover Dam. The property is owned by The Kraft Group, same as the Patriots, Revolution, Gillette Stadium, and several other smaller companies based in Massachusetts and Israel.
“Gillette Stadium is home to the tallest lighthouse in America” “Distance from Gillette Stadium to Boston, MA: 27.9 miles”

Besides learning fun facts and taking in the view, the complementary photo experience was super fun. I found the system intuitive due to the animated video and instructions on the kiosk paired with signage on the concrete floor and glass wall along with a round, yellow marker indicating the location of a second camera that also appeared on signage. According to the employee at the top of the Lighthouse, I am among the few visitors who finds the system intuitive and immediately understood what to do. Whether I honed this skill from my “real” job related to user experience research, my hobby of solving puzzles, or my natural proclivity for seeing minute details, I am not sure. At any rate, I enjoyed the photographing process and having keepsake images from the event.

Epplett Family at Gillette Stadium Gif of the Epplett Family at Gillette Stadium

The lighthouse is generally open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and $0 for active duty, veterans, first responders, season ticket holders, and children under 10. Be sure to check the calendar before visiting, as the Lighthouse often closes for special events, like the upcoming Tom Brady Hall of Fame induction. Plenty of parking is available in nearby Lot 5. The Lighthouse is fully accessible for people with limited mobility or using a wheelchair, although no seating is available at the top. The lobby is dimly lit, possibly for ambiance.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 8/10

Accessibility: 9/10



Location: 1 Patriot Pl, Foxborough, MA 02035, USA