Buzzards Bay Entrance Light

Buzzards Bay Entrance Light

Current (1997) Structure
Location	Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Coordinates	41°23′49.2″N 71°2′4.9″W
Tower
Constructed	1847 (lightships) 1961 (Texas Tower) 1997 (current structure)
Foundation	Steel piles filled with concrete
Construction	Steel
Automated	1980
Shape	Tower, on red square on 3 piles with large tube in center
Markings	Red, with "BUZZARDS"
Fog signal	HORN: 2 every 30s
Racon	"B" (Bravo)
Light
First lit	1961
Focal height	67 feet (20 m)
Range	14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 2.5s

Buzzards Bay Entrance Light is a lighthouse located in open water at the entrance to Buzzards Bay, about four nautical miles west southwest of Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts.[1][2][3] The light has a racon showing the letter "B".[2]

In 1996 the present structure replaced a Texas Tower built in 1961, which in turn had replaced the lightships Hens & Chickens (LV-5) and Vineyard Sound (LV-10). Since it sits in water 50 ft (15m) deep, a conventional lighthouse would have been difficult, forcing the choice of structure.[1]

1961 Texas Tower

References

1. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Massachusetts". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
2. Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2023. p. 8.
3. Rowlett, Russ (2009-12-15). "Lighthouses of the United States: Southeast Massachusetts". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.