Gallery 2, Lighthouse Gallery

Classic Prefab Lighthouse

Updated 4/15/00

This Gallery is devoted to Some New England Lighthouses
Few sights spark the imagination as does the Lighthouse. The artist is not immune to the romance attached to these structures and the thrilling tales that are woven into their history. Add to this a sailors love for these beacons that warn of danger and possible shipwreck, and you can understand Ray's fascination with them as subjects for his paintings.
Early in our history, before the government got into the lighthouse business, the only guide a shipmaster had when approaching a harbor at night were the privately established beacon fires up and down the coast. However, these beacon fires were not charted and were intended for local ships. The masters of passing vessels were frequently confused by them and often ran aground thus spawning a lucrative native American industry - Salvaging.
The cargo of grounded ships becomes the property of those who find it and unload it. Salvaging, as this practice is called, became a thriving business of those who lived along the coast. Putting up false lights on the darkest nights, when sailors had difficulty making out the shoreline, guided the ships on to reefs for the unscrupulous salvager. Thus, moonless nights were preferred by these pirates and they were named “mooncussers”. The mooncussers would normaly wait until morning to work the wreck as usually all hands were drowned by that time. The poor sailors who survived the night were killed off the next day so that there would be no witnesses to the deed. Despite local opposition, especially in places like Portsmouth, NH, Chatham, Cape Cod Mass, and Key West where the pickings were unusually good, the government decided to get into the lighthouse business and line the coast with proper coastline marks. By 1840 it was operating 256 lighthouses and 30 lightships.

Lighthouse Gallery #1
Click on the Image to Enlarge

Portland Head Light, ME
The Portland Head Light towers majestically over the crashing surf while braced for the approaching squall. Located on Cape Elizabeth, Maine, it marks the entrance to Portland Harbor. This light was commissioned by President George Washington and became operational in 1791. Since becoming automated by the Coast Guard, the keepers house has been turned into a museum and is open to the public.

Bass Harbor Head Light
This light was built in 1858 and stands on the southwest point of Mount Desert Island., Me. It marks the entrance to Bass Harbor and is still active.

Pemaquid Point Light
Pemaquid Point Light was built in 1827 and is located on the western side of Muscongus Bay, Maine. It sits on a very exposed part of the coast and is frequently exposed to extremly bad weather. Despite the light, several ships have been wrecked in this vicinity during violent storms.

Willard Beach, Cape Elizabeth, ME
This watercolor was painted from an old photo (circa 1950) and shows the old clam shacks that have since been demolished. Portland Head Light is visible in the background.

Provincetown, Long Point
This is a view of Provincetown Harbor at low tide looking out southeast across the harbor toward the curling arm of Cape Cod. The Long Point Light, just visible in the background, is located on the tip of this arm and marks the entrance to the harbor. The first light was erected at this point in 1827. During the Civil War two forts were constructed at Long Point. They were called by local residents "Fort Useless" and "Fort Harmless". They never saw any action.

Nauset Beach Light, Cape Cod
Nauset Beach Light gets its name from the lighthouse positioned on the dunes seen in the background. The beach is part of the National Seashore on Cape Cod which runs north and south on the eastern shore of the cape as it turns north at the town of Chatham. This stretch of the cape is notorious for shipwrecks. Between the years 1887 to 1907, over one-half the total number of shipwrecks occurring on the Atlantic Coast took place between Nauset and Nantucket. In fact, “wrecking” (salvaging materials from wrecked ships) was a major industry on the Cape and the decision, in 1832, to build a lighthouse on this stretch of beach was not met with any enthusiasm by the local residents as they claimed it would significantly impact on local “business”.

Nauset Beach Light
A closer view of Nauset Beach Light showing its distinctive red band on the upper half of the tower. This location originally had three lighthouses (nicknamed the "Three Sisters of Nauset") but was changed to a single lighthouse in 1911. The present structure is one of the twin lighthouses previously located at Chatham. It was moved to Nauset after the twin Chatham lights were changed to a single one in 1923. The original Three Sisters were purchased and restored by the National Park Service. They are located about one third of a mile from the Nauset light and are open to the public.

Sankaty Head Light
Sankaty Head Light, on the southeastern edge of Nantucket Island, was built in 1850. You want to keep this light well to the west of you if you wish to clear the dangerous Davis South Shoals off Nantucket. Like so many old light houses in New England, this one is in danger of toppling into the sea because of the erosion of the dune on which it is perched. Although not often visited by tourists, golfers rave about the beautiful golf course located there.

Sankaty Head Light
A closer view of the Sankaty light shows how perilously close to the edge of the bluff on which it stands. It will have to be moved in the near future. However, erosion control measures in recent years have managed to postpone the date for its relocation. Renovations to the tower were completed in 1994 but the keepers house and other outbuildings were removed.

Nobska Point Light
Woods Hole is familiar to many as the home of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the home port for Robert Ballard and crew of Titanic fame. The Nobska Point Light, located between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, stands on the rocky headlands above Woods Hole Harbor. The first light, built in 1828, was replaced with the current 40-foot cast iron tower in 1876. In reality, this view of the structure has a nicely manicured lawn. I thought a rocky face was more dramatic so I relandscaped for my picture. I can do that - artist’s license.

Southeast Light is located on Block Island. It marks the southeast passage between the island and Montauk Point, Long Island and is still active. Erected in 1873, it was recently rescued from the sea by moving it further back from the edge of the fast eroding bluffs upon which it is perched.

Beavertail Light is located on the southmost tip of Conanicut Island (Jamestown) separating the East and West Passages to Narragansett Bay, RI. This light was the first one built in the state (1749) and is still active.

Castle Hill Light marks the eastern shore of the East Passage entrance to Narragansett Bay, RI. Built in 1890, it is still active with a red light flashing every six seconds.

Newport Harbor Light (often called Goat Island Light) was established in 1823, and is still active. It is built on the northern end of Goat Island and marks the entrance to Newport Harbor. Even on this foggy day, the Newport/Jamestown bridge can still be seen in the background.

Built in 1870 atop of Fort Hamilton (1798)on the south end of Rose Island, sitting in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, RI, the Rose Island Light is easily visible from the Newport/Jamestown Bridge. Deactivated and abandoned by the Coast Guard in 1971, it has recently emerged as a "Bed and Breakfast".

Another view of Beavertail Light painted in the evening light and from the West Passage side looking southeast.

Located on the southern tip of Dutch Island, south of the Jamestown Bridge, in the center of the West Passage to Narragansett Bay, RI, it is first light one sees after sailing north past the Beavertail Light. Built in 1826, the Dutch Island Light is now inactive It is a rather uninteresting subject to paint, so I depicted it in a rainstorm.

Plum Beach Light is also located in the West Passage to Narragansett Bay just north of the Jamestown Bridge. Built in 1897, it was extensively damaged by a number of hurricanes (the worst being the one of 1938) and was deactivated in 1941. Recently it has become a candidate for preservation. I have not painted the renovated lighthouse yet but will post it here when I do.

Another view of the Plum Beach Light on a bright sunlit day. This painting was done some years after the one shown above. The new Jamestown Bridge (a boring structure) is shown in the background and to simplfy the composition the old Jamestown Bridge (which was still standing just south of the new bridge when I painted this) was eliminated from the picture. The old bridge has since been demolished.

Established in 1826 to guide ships through the narrow strait in the Narragansett Bay between Warwick Neck and Patience Island, it is still active with an occulting green light flashing every four seconds.

1 Warwick Neck Light on a foggy day.

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	Portland Head Light, ME The Portland Head Light towers majestically over the crashing surf while braced for the approaching squall. Located on Cape Elizabeth, Maine, it marks the entrance to Portland Harbor. This light was commissioned by President George Washington and became operational in 1791. Since becoming automated by the Coast Guard, the keepers house has been turned into a museum and is open to the public.
	Bass Harbor Head Light This light was built in 1858 and stands on the southwest point of Mount Desert Island., Me. It marks the entrance to Bass Harbor and is still active.
	Pemaquid Point Light Pemaquid Point Light was built in 1827 and is located on the western side of Muscongus Bay, Maine. It sits on a very exposed part of the coast and is frequently exposed to extremly bad weather. Despite the light, several ships have been wrecked in this vicinity during violent storms.
	Willard Beach, Cape Elizabeth, ME This watercolor was painted from an old photo (circa 1950) and shows the old clam shacks that have since been demolished. Portland Head Light is visible in the background.
	Provincetown, Long Point This is a view of Provincetown Harbor at low tide looking out southeast across the harbor toward the curling arm of Cape Cod. The Long Point Light, just visible in the background, is located on the tip of this arm and marks the entrance to the harbor. The first light was erected at this point in 1827. During the Civil War two forts were constructed at Long Point. They were called by local residents "Fort Useless" and "Fort Harmless". They never saw any action.
	Nauset Beach Light, Cape Cod Nauset Beach Light gets its name from the lighthouse positioned on the dunes seen in the background. The beach is part of the National Seashore on Cape Cod which runs north and south on the eastern shore of the cape as it turns north at the town of Chatham. This stretch of the cape is notorious for shipwrecks. Between the years 1887 to 1907, over one-half the total number of shipwrecks occurring on the Atlantic Coast took place between Nauset and Nantucket. In fact, “wrecking” (salvaging materials from wrecked ships) was a major industry on the Cape and the decision, in 1832, to build a lighthouse on this stretch of beach was not met with any enthusiasm by the local residents as they claimed it would significantly impact on local “business”.
	Nauset Beach Light A closer view of Nauset Beach Light showing its distinctive red band on the upper half of the tower. This location originally had three lighthouses (nicknamed the "Three Sisters of Nauset") but was changed to a single lighthouse in 1911. The present structure is one of the twin lighthouses previously located at Chatham. It was moved to Nauset after the twin Chatham lights were changed to a single one in 1923. The original Three Sisters were purchased and restored by the National Park Service. They are located about one third of a mile from the Nauset light and are open to the public.
	Sankaty Head Light Sankaty Head Light, on the southeastern edge of Nantucket Island, was built in 1850. You want to keep this light well to the west of you if you wish to clear the dangerous Davis South Shoals off Nantucket. Like so many old light houses in New England, this one is in danger of toppling into the sea because of the erosion of the dune on which it is perched. Although not often visited by tourists, golfers rave about the beautiful golf course located there.
	Sankaty Head Light A closer view of the Sankaty light shows how perilously close to the edge of the bluff on which it stands. It will have to be moved in the near future. However, erosion control measures in recent years have managed to postpone the date for its relocation. Renovations to the tower were completed in 1994 but the keepers house and other outbuildings were removed.
	Nobska Point Light Woods Hole is familiar to many as the home of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the home port for Robert Ballard and crew of Titanic fame. The Nobska Point Light, located between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, stands on the rocky headlands above Woods Hole Harbor. The first light, built in 1828, was replaced with the current 40-foot cast iron tower in 1876. In reality, this view of the structure has a nicely manicured lawn. I thought a rocky face was more dramatic so I relandscaped for my picture. I can do that - artist’s license.
	Southeast Light is located on Block Island. It marks the southeast passage between the island and Montauk Point, Long Island and is still active. Erected in 1873, it was recently rescued from the sea by moving it further back from the edge of the fast eroding bluffs upon which it is perched.
	Beavertail Light is located on the southmost tip of Conanicut Island (Jamestown) separating the East and West Passages to Narragansett Bay, RI. This light was the first one built in the state (1749) and is still active.
	Castle Hill Light marks the eastern shore of the East Passage entrance to Narragansett Bay, RI. Built in 1890, it is still active with a red light flashing every six seconds.
	Newport Harbor Light (often called Goat Island Light) was established in 1823, and is still active. It is built on the northern end of Goat Island and marks the entrance to Newport Harbor. Even on this foggy day, the Newport/Jamestown bridge can still be seen in the background.
	Built in 1870 atop of Fort Hamilton (1798)on the south end of Rose Island, sitting in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, RI, the Rose Island Light is easily visible from the Newport/Jamestown Bridge. Deactivated and abandoned by the Coast Guard in 1971, it has recently emerged as a "Bed and Breakfast".
	Another view of Beavertail Light painted in the evening light and from the West Passage side looking southeast.
	Located on the southern tip of Dutch Island, south of the Jamestown Bridge, in the center of the West Passage to Narragansett Bay, RI, it is first light one sees after sailing north past the Beavertail Light. Built in 1826, the Dutch Island Light is now inactive It is a rather uninteresting subject to paint, so I depicted it in a rainstorm.
	Plum Beach Light is also located in the West Passage to Narragansett Bay just north of the Jamestown Bridge. Built in 1897, it was extensively damaged by a number of hurricanes (the worst being the one of 1938) and was deactivated in 1941. Recently it has become a candidate for preservation. I have not painted the renovated lighthouse yet but will post it here when I do.
	Another view of the Plum Beach Light on a bright sunlit day. This painting was done some years after the one shown above. The new Jamestown Bridge (a boring structure) is shown in the background and to simplfy the composition the old Jamestown Bridge (which was still standing just south of the new bridge when I painted this) was eliminated from the picture. The old bridge has since been demolished.
	Established in 1826 to guide ships through the narrow strait in the Narragansett Bay between Warwick Neck and Patience Island, it is still active with an occulting green light flashing every four seconds.
1	Warwick Neck Light on a foggy day.