Nubble lighthouse York Beach
MR-1602
The placement of a lighthouse on the Nubble had been recommended by many local mariners since 1807. Congress appropriated $15,000 for the building of a lighthouse on the Nubble in 1876. The 41-foot cast-iron tower, lined with brick, was first illuminated on July 1, 1879. At first, the lighthouse was painted reddish-brown, showing a fixed red light through a fourth order Fresnel lens. The distinctive red oil house was built in 1902, and the walkway connecting the lighthouse to the keeper's house was added in 1911. While not accessible to visitors, it can be easily viewed from nearby Sohier Park.
The Nubble Light has probably appeared on more postcards, calendars, and other souvenirs than any other New England lighthouse, with the possible exception of Portland Head Light.
A complete history of the "Nubble" can be found at http://www.lighthouse.cc/capeneddick/history.html