Digest>Archives> Nov/Dec 2015

Baker’s Island Painted and Opened to the Public

By Timothy Harrison

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Workmen painting the tower at Baker’s Island ...

After years, for the most part, of being off limits to the general public, the Essex National Heritage Commission opened the Baker’s Island Lighthouse Station for tours. Baker’s Island Lighthouse is located on an island off the coast of Salem, Massachusetts.

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Landing craft used by Essex Heritage to get ...
Photo by: Ron Foster

Ever since Coast Guard personnel left the island after automation, access to the island has been prohibited, other than to people who own property on the island.

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Built in 1907, the former fog signal building at ...
Photo by: Ron Foster

Last year when Essex Heritage was awarded ownership of the light station, under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, they were informed that they could not use the island’s wharf to land people on the island for tours. The problem was solved with a landing craft boat that could take people and supplies to and from the island.

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Workmen painting the tower at Baker’s Island ...

Almost immediately after taking ownership of Baker’s Island Lighthouse, Essex Heritage embarked on a crowdfunding web site to help them raise money to paint the tower. Visitors to the lighthouse are now able to see an historic light station that is in pristine condition.

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Baker’s Island Lighthouse as it appeared before ...


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Baker’s Island Lighthouse as it appeared before ...


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The kitchen in the keeper’s house at Baker’s ...
Photo by: Ron Foster


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The oil house at Baker’s Island Lighthouse was ...
Photo by: Ron Foster


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The kitchen in the keeper’s house at Baker’s ...
Photo by: Ron Foster


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One of the bedrooms in the keeper’s house at ...
Photo by: Ron Foster


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Baker’s Island Lighthouse as it appears from the ...
Photo by: Ron Foster

This story appeared in the Nov/Dec 2015 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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