Mayo Beach Light

Mayo Beach Light is a cast iron lighthouse tower standing about 9 meters tall on Cape Cod's Mayo Beach in Wellfleet. Built to guide ships safely through the coastal waters near the Cape, the structure features a simple cylindrical design typical of 19th century navigation aids.

The original lighthouse was built with brick in 1837, but a new cast iron tower replaced it in 1881 to improve its navigation effectiveness. This modernization reflected growing maritime traffic that required stronger, more reliable beacon structures.

The lighthouse once guided fishing boats and sailing vessels that depended on its light for safe passage along the coast. Local residents remember it as a landmark that shaped their relationship with the sea.

You can still see the foundation ring of the original structure near the former keeper's house on the beach, which is now private property. The remains are best viewed from the public shoreline without crossing into restricted areas.

The cast iron tower was moved all the way to Point Montara, California in 1928, where it still operates as a working navigation aid today. This unusual relocation transformed the structure into a traveling piece of maritime history.

Location: Wellfleet

Inception: 1837

Height: 9 m

Made from material: cast iron

GPS coordinates: 41.93070,-70.03430

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:28