Lighthouses · Martha’s Vineyard
Five lights, and what it takes to reach each one
Two you can walk to, one that opens at sunset, one that is somebody’s house, and one you need a vehicle on the sand to see.
You can get close
A short walk along the harbour from town. Grounds open in season, and the most photographed light on the island.
The island’s first light, above the clay cliffs. Seasonal tours; moved back from the eroding edge in 2015.
Telegraph Hill, above the harbour entrance. Limited sunset openings, and one of the best evening spots on the island.
Look, do not enter
Still a Coast Guard residence, so the tower is closed. The northernmost point of the island.
Only with a guide
Over-sand vehicle tour or a long walk up the beach. Moved several times as the shore retreated beneath it.
Martha's Vineyard sits off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and its five lighthouses have been guiding boats for more than two centuries. Each one marks a different corner of the coastline, and each is worth a visit on its own, for the history, the views, or just a good place to end the day. The waters these lights guard have claimed more ships than most visitors realize; see our history of Martha's Vineyard shipwrecks.
The five lights at a glance
Edgartown Lighthouse
BUILT 1828 · EDGARTOWN HARBOR · GROUNDS OPEN IN SEASON
Location:Edgartown Harbor
The Edgartown Lighthouse is one of Martha’s Vineyard’s most photographed landmarks. First built in 1828, it has marked the entrance to Edgartown Harbor for nearly two centuries. You reach it on foot across a short stretch of beach from downtown Edgartown, and the harbor view from its base is hard to beat.
Gay Head Lighthouse (Aquinnah)
BUILT 1799 · AQUINNAH CLIFFS · SEASONAL TOURS
Location:Aquinnah Cliffs
The Gay Head Lighthouse stands above the red-and-orange clay cliffs in Aquinnah. Built in 1799, it is the island’s first lighthouse, and one of the most historically significant in New England. In 2015, the entire structure was moved inland to save it from the eroding cliff, a serious piece of engineering that kept it standing.
East Chop Lighthouse
BUILT 1878 · TELEGRAPH HILL, OAK BLUFFS · SUNSET OPENINGS
Location:Oak Bluffs
The East Chop Lighthouse overlooks the entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor and is one of the best sunset spots on the entire island. The current iron tower, built in 1878, still guides mariners. In the evening it draws walkers and photographers waiting for the sun to go down.
West Chop Lighthouse
BUILT 1817 · VINEYARD HAVEN · CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Location:Vineyard Haven
The West Chop Lighthouse is the only lighthouse on the island that still serves as a residence for the U.S. Coast Guard. Built in 1817, it overlooks Holmes Hole from the northernmost point of Vineyard Haven. The lighthouse itself is closed to the public, but the paths around it make for a good quiet walk along the water.
Cape Poge Lighthouse
BUILT 1801 · CHAPPAQUIDDICK · OVER-SAND TOURS
Location:Chappaquiddick Island
You can only reach Cape Poge Lighthouse by over-sand vehicle tour or a long walk up the beach, which makes it the island’s most secluded light. Built in 1801 and moved multiple times as the shoreline eroded, it sits inside the Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge: a long stretch of dunes, tidal flats, and open coastline.
Guided tours offer rare access inside the lighthouse, and the guides cover its relocations, the engineering behind them, and the ecosystem around it.
Preserving Maritime Heritage
These lighthouses still stand because people on the island keep them standing. Many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and local conservation groups handle their upkeep and restoration.
Each one has its own story. Go for the history, the photographs, or just the view.
For nearby ideas, see our guides to outdoor activities and beaches.
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