Abby Epplett, Historian

In September 2024, I visited places and attended programs in Essex National Heritage Area as part of its annual event Trails & Sails . On my second day, I visited Hospital Point Lighthouse in Beverly, MA. Built in 1872, this lighthouse is owned by the United States Coast Guard and acts as a private residence for the First Coast Guard District Commander and his family. The open house during Trails & Sails is one of the few times the general public is permitted on the property, and regular readers know I cannot deny myself a good lighthouse tour .

I took a three day mini-vacation to the Mystic / Lyme area of Connecticut and visited many museums, houses, and other history stops. Nearly half my time was spent at Mystic Seaport Museum , a living history museum in Mystic, CT. The attraction was so expansive that I am creating a six-part miniseries about the fantastic experience. These posts will include two parts on “Seaport Village”, “Preservation Shipyard”, “Galleries”, “Boats, Signs, & Shows”, and “Bonus Houses”.

While planning day trips to the Essex National Heritage Area, I stumbled upon The Beacons Are Lit: The Lighthouse Keepers of Bakers Island . I was intrigued by the bizarre juxtaposition of a late 18 th century lighthouse in Salem, MA and a line from Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King , so I had to further investigate this short online exhibit. The exhibit begins with a quick review on the history and importance of lighthouses with a special focus on the Pharos of Alexandria in Ancient Greece. Then the exhibit dives right into the importance of the lighthouse on Bakers Island. The current lighthouse is “Pa”, as it was the “husband” of “Ma”, a slightly older and shorter lighthouse next door that was torn down in 1926. Lighthouses have been on the island since 1798, and a keeper was needed to run them. This work was incredibly risky, as third keeper Nathaniel Ward and his assistant Marshall (with no clarity in the exhibit over whether this was a first name or last name...

Last Saturday — June 15, 2024 — I went on a history adventure in New Bedford, MA. Between my three major stops of New Bedford Art Museum , the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum , and Fort Taber Park , I made several quick history stops around the city. Highlights included neoclassical architecture, memorials, repurposed factories, and flood prevention infrastructure.

Last Saturday — June 15, 2024 — I had an adventure in New Bedford, MA. My third major stop was Fort Taber Park , which included the remains of a historic fort, a paved walking trail, and Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Historical Association Military Museum . This museum was my second stop in the Passport to History developed by Old Colony History Museum , my first stop being Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA on June 2, 2024 .

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.

During my trip to Jamestown, RI in July 2023, I visited Beavertail Lighthouse, a free museum about the history of the building and its keepers. Earlier that day, I visited many other historic attractions on Conanicut Island, including Historic New England’s Casey Farm and Watson Farm , along with several sites operated by Jamestown Historical Society (JHS) , like Conanicut Battery . I had wanted to visit the Beavertail Lighthouse museum for a long time, but it had never been open when I visited. This was my lucky day! Many protective buildings existed on the Jamestown coast even before the construction of the current lighthouse. The first Watch House was built in 1705, and a Fire Beacon in 1712. The original Beavertail Lighthouse was erected in 1749, making it the third lighthouse established on the Atlantic Coast in the British American colonies. The lighthouse was designed by Peter Harrison , often called “America’s First Architect”. His other famous work in ...

During my visit to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, back in June 2023, I visited Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos [The Three Eyes National Park] and saw Faro a Colón [Lighthouse to Columbus] along the way. The park is a great way to enjoy the outdoors not far from the city. While the lighthouse is not located in a safe space for foreign tourists, visitors can park briefly on the side of the road to get a picture. History of Faro a Colón Plans for a lighthouse dedicated to Columbus and built in Santo Domingo were in the works since 1931. In fact, Scottish architect Joseph Lea Gleave won a contest as a twenty-three year old for designing the best lighthouse for the spot. Despite early enthusiasm for the lighthouse, progress stalled when the consortium of countries who supported the idea did not lend financial support. A foundation was laid during the Trujillo Era, but no more progress was made. Gleave died in 1965, long before his lighthous...

Last October, I visited Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem, MA. I had visited the city of Salem several times in the past and had taken a ranger-led tour of the area, but I had never completed a Junior Ranger badge for the site, so the revisit was a must. The National Historic Site designation within the National Park Service in the United States originated with Salem, as it was the first National Historic Site. Created on March 17, 1938, the park celebrated its 85 th anniversary last Friday. Salem Maritime NHS can be divided into three parts: the Salem Armory Visitor Center, the tall ship Friendship of Salem at Derby Wharf, and historic buildings. Each of these parts is important for understanding the history of the city.

Besides many great museums and historic houses in Newbury and Newburyport, some of which I will explore during my next trip to the Essex National Heritage Area , I visited several quick history stops along the Newburyport Harborwalk & Clipper City Rail Trail . The Custom House Maritime Museum is located along the route, along with sculptures from New England artists, lighthouses, and signage describing historical events and buildings in the area.