Lighting the way into Woods Hole Harbor and guarding the dangerous, southern waterways known as the Hedge Fence and L'Hommedieu Shoals, there has been a lighthouse at Nobska Point since 1828.
After the original tower showed signs of water leakage, a new tower was built in 1876, and it is that tower which still stands today.
The U.S. Coast Guard took over the light in 1939, although for a long period of time civilians still served as the keepers under this arrangement, and today the keeper's house serves as the quarters for the 'Commander Coast Guard Group Woods Hole'.
After automating the light in 1985, the light was adopted by the Coast Guard'sAuxiliary Flotilla 11-2, which presently watches over the light.
Majesty Score: 4
Nobska has very impressive majesty! Its light tower, which sits up on a hill, combines with its full living, keeper's Victorian house and gives the light a great presence when viewing it in person whether from the main land or from passing ferry alike.
This lighthouse is exactly what you think a lighthouse should look like, and also exactly where you think a light house should be, elevated up on a hill overlooking a beautiful water way.
Water View Score: 5
This was the most impressive consideration for Nobska Light! It features a really awe inspiring water view of the Vineyard Sound, with Martha's Vineyard appearing so close its seems like it is a stones throw away or even possible to swim to! The lighthouse's elevated position raises your viewing plane over the shrubbery and really lets visitors appreciate this view! Along with Martha's Vineyard, you can see the Elizabeth Islands. (Martha's Vineyard can be seen on the Water View pictures below. It is the land mass in the near distance on the left hand side)
Preservation Score: 4
The light is very well preserved, as are most Coast Guard maintained lights. The house recently received a new makeover with a wood shingle look.
Surrounding Area Score: 4
The town of Falmouth, of which Woods Holes is part of, is a very quaint Cape Cod town with some very beautiful areas. Upon mistakenly making a left on Nobska Road, we drove along a beautiful strip of road with grand houses overlooking the sound that eventually took us back to the town Falmouth. It was very scenic being lost!
Accessibility Score: 3
The accessibility of this great light is a mixed bag. You have very good access to the yard that the light sits in, and can actually touch the light, but the keeper's house is fenced off.
The area around the lighthouse is maybe only a double plot of land, so there really isn't an excess of land around the light. It is not a place you can go to have a picnic lunch.
Across the street there is a small lookout on the rock ledge (see right) where you can go to the land's edge and look out across the sound.
There is a small parking lot that probably allows 6 cars right in front of the light but should be used with caution because the curve in the road sets up two blind spots from both directions upon leaving.
The light is very occasionally opened to the public, check with the town for specifics.
Beacon Score: 4
The original 5th order Fresnel lens was upgraded 1888, and the light received a 4th order Fresnel lens. The beacon flashes white every six seconds with a red sector that makes the light appear red from the east, adding an extra warning to the dangerous shoals.
Overall Score and Overview: 26
This is, with out a question, my favorite "sleeper" light in New England. It does not get a lot of fan fare, or notoriety as the many New England lights you can think of, but it is a really a beautiful light that carries itself with grandeur.
This is definitely worth a stop for the water view alone. The grounds there will warrant maybe a half hour to an hour visit, not to much more, but it is definitely worth the trip!
Directions: Turn off MA 28 in Falmouth south onto West Street. That road becomes Woods Hole Road. Turn right onto Locust Street. At Church Street bear left. Follow, vering right onto Nobska Road. You will see the atenna for the lighthouse a little ways down the road. The light is around the bend. This Web Site represents the opinions of its owners. Lighthouse Ratings.com'sTM Inc., Scores, Rating Systems,Trademark Logos, Pictures and Individual Content may not be used in any way without the express written consent of the proprietors of this site. ©2002 Lighthouse Ratings.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
