Minot's Ledge Light
Cohasset, Massachusets

Minot's Ledge is known as the "I love you" light, named for its 1-4-3 flashing pattern. But the history of Minot's Ledge belies this romantic notion. The original iron piling tower was first lit in 1850, and immediately the keeper complained of the unsafe conditions of the wave-swept ledge. His replacement also complained, and in April of 1851 the tower was taken out by the huge tidal surges of a powerful storm, killing the two assistant keepers on duty.

What followed was one of the Lighthouse Board's most impressive engineering feats, as "3514 tons of Quincy granite were hewn into 1079 dovetailed blocks." The stones were cut and preassembled on land, then transfered to the ledge for the dangerous 5-year task of raising the new 114-foot lighthouse. The second-order lens of Minot's Ledge went into service in the fall of 1860. In 1983 the light was converted to solar power, and the lens replaced with a 300mm optic.

On shore, near Cohasset, is a replica of Minot's lantern, which stands at the spot where the tower's blocks were assembled, and near the keeper's house, which is now a private club.

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