The Highland Light is an active lighthouse on the Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro, Massachusetts. The current tower was erected in 1857, replacing two earlier towers that had been built in 1797 and 1831. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod.
The grounds are open year-round, while the light is open to the public from May until late October, with guided tours available. Highland Light is owned by the National Park Service, and was cared for by the Highland Museum and Lighthouse, Inc. until 2014 when Eastern National, another non-profit group, took over the contract to operate the facility as a tourist attraction. The United States Coast Guard operates the light itself as an aid to navigation. The United States Navy ship was named after the light. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Highland Light Station.
In 1797, a station authorized by George Washington was established at this point on the Cape, with a wood lighthouse to warn ships about the dangerous coastline between Cape Ann and Nantucket. It was the first light on Cape Cod. In 1833, the wood structure was replaced by a brick tower and in 1840 a new lantern and lighting apparatus was installed. In 1857 the lighthouse was declared dangerous and demolished, and for a total cost of $17,000, the current 66 foot brick tower was constructed. Add Highland Light to your Truro travel itinerary, and discover new vacation ideas by using our Truro vacation planner.
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Highland Light reviews
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We picked a beautiful sunny weekday March day to visit as we drove from Boston to Provincetown. There was no construction going on but it was closed as much of the Cape was during this time of the..... more
We picked a beautiful sunny weekday March day to visit as we drove from Boston to Provincetown. There was no construction going on but it was closed as much of the Cape was during this time of the..... more »
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Yep, still closed when we visited July 6, 2021. I hadn't looked ahead, so I was disappointed. But I don't want to ding the review, either. I saw this lighthouse years ago, and loved it! I had...
Yep, still closed when we visited July 6, 2021. I hadn't looked ahead, so I was disappointed. But I don't want to ding the review, either. I saw this lighthouse years ago, and loved it! I had... more »
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The lighthouse renovations, at least from the outside, look great. Since we visited during the off-season in late March, we were unable to enter the lighthouse and museum. Otherwise the walk to the lighthouse and cliffs was beautiful, and the scenery was breathtaking.
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No this is not the Cape cod lighthouse that is on the potato chip bags. This is a really cool place great to bring a family or to go with a friend pretty much just that pictures and read up some of the history about it I had a lot of fun I went with two friends we then went down to the beach we had a lot of fun here as well it's very clean water or very nice place to be! Next time you're bored just take a drive out there I drove over 2 hours to see it and we had a lot of fun it was an experience!
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