Butler Flats Light

Butler Flats Light is a white tower with a black base that rises 53 feet (16 m) above New Bedford Harbor. The structure contains multiple interior levels with storage, office space, living quarters, and a watch room for navigational operations.

The structure was completed in 1898 and designed by Francis Hopkinson Smith, the engineer who also built the foundation of the Statue of Liberty. It was constructed to help guide ships safely into and out of the harbor.

The lighthouse held deep meaning for the maritime community, serving as a symbol of safety and guidance for generations of sailors and fishermen. Walking past it today, you can sense the connection between this structure and the people whose livelihoods depended on safe passage through the harbor.

The lighthouse is located at coordinates 41.6037948, -70.894482 and can be seen from East Rodney French Boulevard and various waterfront locations. You can view it best from the public pathways and walkways that run along the harbor area.

This is a caisson lighthouse with a distinctive design that includes multiple circular decks surrounding the structure. The round shape was a practical solution for anchoring the tower to the harbor bottom in shallow water.

Location: New Bedford

Inception: 1898

Architects: Francis Hopkinson Smith

GPS coordinates: 41.60379,-70.89448

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:40