LIGHTHOUSE XVII

BRANT POINT LIGHT - NANTUCKET ISLAND – MA

Order No. 114

HISTORY: The current lighthouse at Brant Point is the 10^th structure at Brant Point Station. The original structure was built in 1746, making Brant Point the oldest lighthouse after Boston. The light was built due to the importance of the local whaling industry in Nantucket.

The early structures were simply lanterns on platforms which were destroyed by the elements. The original 1758 light burned, the 2^nd light was destroyed by a storm, the third structure burned down in 1783, the 4^th light burned in 1786 and the 5^th was destroyed by a storm in 1788. The sixth light survived under control of the U. S. Government until 1825. The 7^th light was built on top of the keeper’s house and served until 1856. This was the first permanent structure.

A new 47-foot tower was built housing a fourth-order Fresnel lens and a new keeper’s house was attached. The 8^th tower served until 1900. Finally, the current structure was completed in 1901. It houses a fifth-order Fresnel lens and stands a mere 26 feet high—the shortest of the New England lights.

The light remains operational today and was automated in 1965. It is not open to the public at this time.

STITCHING INFORMATION: Stitch Count: 88 stitches wide x 166 high. Our to-scale counted cross stitch design of Brant Point Lighthouse was stitched on a 13" x 17" piece of 16-count white AIDA fabric. To use a different type of fabric or different AIDA sized fabric, give the stitch count to your fabric store and they will help you select the correct amount of fabric to complete this design. Our threads were carefully chosen to depict the actual colors of the lighthouse to give it the most realistic appearance possible.