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A 2-minute virtual tour of the Edgartown Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard, the 1881 landmark at the mouth of Edgartown Harbor.
At the end of North Water Street in Edgartown stands one of the most photographed things on Martha's Vineyard: a 45-foot conical cast-iron lighthouse with a history spanning nearly two centuries, two locations, and one devastating hurricane.
The Edgartown Light against a violet sky, the Harbor View glowing behind it.
Filmed January 2023The island moves on: shops, signs and prices may differ from what you see here. The text of this guide was checked September 2026.
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Congress approved $5,500 on May 23, 1828 for building a light at the entrance to Edgartown Harbor. The original was a two-story wooden Cape Cod-style keeper's dwelling with a glass lantern room, built on wooden pilings on a small artificial island offshore. The first keeper was Jeremiah Pease, who rowed to reach the light. In 1830, Congress approved $2,500 for a 1,500-foot wooden walkway connecting the lighthouse to shore. This causeway became known as the "Bridge of Sighs," reflecting the emotions of islanders watching whaling ships depart for voyages of up to five years.
The Great Hurricane of 1938 inflicted severe structural damage, and the US Coast Guard demolished the buildings in 1939.
The present tower was originally built in 1881 as a rear range light on Crane's Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Its light was discontinued in 1932 because sand shifting had moved the shoreline over 1,000 feet away. In 1939, the tower was disassembled and barged to Edgartown. It shows a flashing red light every six seconds. A spiral staircase replaced the original near-vertical ladder during 2007 renovations funded by $250,000 from Edgartown's Community Preservation Act.
In 2014, the Town of Edgartown purchased it from the US government for $1 under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The Martha's Vineyard Museum remains the steward.
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Located about a 10–15-minute walk from downtown Edgartown along North Water Street. Admission: $5 adults; children 12 and under free; MV Museum members free. In season the museum lists the tower open seven days a week, 10 AM to 4 PM, weather permitting; hours shrink in the shoulder months. Check mvmuseum.org for current hours. From the top: Edgartown Harbor, Chappaquiddick, Cape Cod, and the Atlantic.
The Edgartown Light stands at the mouth of the harbor, a short walk along the town beach from Main Street.
Created in 2001, inspired by Rick Harrington after his 16-year-old son Ricky was killed in a car accident. Over 1,000 families from around the world have had their child's name carved into granite cobblestones placed into the lighthouse's foundation. An annual Ceremony of Remembrance is held each September; the 2026 ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at 1:00 PM.
Sand has accumulated since 1939 around the stone causeway, creating Lighthouse Beach at the base, a popular spot with views of the harbor and Chappaquiddick. For the rest of the town, see our Edgartown Town Guide (2026).
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Island tip of the day Ferry No. 4 of 86 New tip at midnight, island time
The Island Queen from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs is $20 one-way, $30 round-trip (35 min). Passengers and bikes only: no cars, and no dogs. Buy tickets at islandqueen.com; summer boats do fill.
The Hallmark Martha's Vineyard Mysteries are not filmed on Martha's Vineyard: Victoria, British Columbia plays the island on screen. But the books behind the movies are pure Vineyard, and the real places are better than the set.
On August 19, 1991, Hurricane Bob hit Martha's Vineyard at the height of the season: 98 mph winds, 84 boats wrecked in Edgartown Harbor alone, a sloop in the Harborside Inn pool, and a false autumn by Labor Day. The story of the storm, told through an original Vineyard Gazette storm edition we found in an island thrift shop.
Inside Edgartown's 4th of July: the Main Street parade with fifes, floats, classic cars and Camp Jabberwocky, then fireworks over the harbor, with photos, video and tips for doing the day right.
Take a guided Jaws tour of Martha's Vineyard with local guide Mike Currid. Walk the real Amity Island in Edgartown and book the "Amity" Walking Tour.
A first-hand look at the Edgartown Historic Walking Tour and "Amity" Jaws Tour with Mike Currid of the Edgartown Tour Company: what to expect, what you'll learn, and how to book.
Plan a Chappaquiddick day trip: the On Time Ferry, Mytoi Japanese garden, Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Beach, and biking routes on Martha's Vineyard.
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