The Graves Light stands on the outermost rocks of the Boston Harbor Islands, about 9 miles offshore, guiding vessels through the North Channel into and out of the Port of Boston. Built in 1905 as the channel was dredged for large ships, its 113-foot granite tower became the tallest lighthouse on Boston’s approaches. It originally used a rare first-order Fresnel lens, now at the Smithsonian Institution, and was automated in 1976. Later sold at a record price for a U.S. lighthouse in 2013, it remained an active beacon while undergoing restoration. Its isolated setting, difficult access, and cramped interior have long defined life there.

Nahant · Suffolk