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Brant Point Lighthouse

Oc red🇺🇸Southeastern Massachusetts, USInactive

Location & Light Range

About Brant Point Lighthouse

The Brant Point Lighthouse, first lit in 1856, stands 7.9 meters tall with a focal height of 14 meters. Its red tower emits a red occulting light, visible for 10 nautical miles. This lighthouse is situated on Nantucket Island in Southeastern Massachusetts. The current structure marks the tenth light established on the point since 1746, with several previous lights having been lost to fire or storms, or deemed unsatisfactory.

Why it matters: The current tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1987, and holds heritage status 2.

Background
Brant Point Light is a lighthouse located on Nantucket Island. The station was established in 1746, automated in 1965, and is still in operation. The current tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1987; it has the distinction of being the tenth light on the point, in addition to several range lights. Four of the others burned or blew down, two were condemned, two were unsatisfactory, and the remaining one stands unused.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Oc red
Flash Type
Occulting
Light Color
red
Flash Count
1 flash
Raw Code
Oc
Focal Height
14m
Geographic Range
10NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1856
Heritage Status
2

References & Identifiers

Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q109323340 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
7.9m
Tower Color
red

Location

City
Southeastern Massachusetts
Country
🇺🇸US
Latitude
41.2897°
Longitude
-70.0924°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Brant Point Lighthouse at night?+
Brant Point displays the characteristic Oc red. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The red color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Brant Point Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Brant Point Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is NANTUCKET at 0.1 NM to the SW. Other ports served include Edgartown (19.7 NM WNW), SHIP SHOPS (22.6 NM N), West Yarmouth (22.8 NM NNW), HYANNIS (23.1 NM NNW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Brant Point Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Brant Point Lighthouse is currently listed as inactive. It may have been decommissioned, replaced by a different navigation aid, or temporarily taken out of service. Mariners should check the latest Notices to Mariners for current status.
What shipping routes pass near Brant Point Lighthouse?+
Brant Point Lighthouse is located within the US East Coast shipping lane — a major shipping corridor serving ports along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Brant Point Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Brant Point Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.