Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light

Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light is a 16-meter tall brick pyramid-shaped structure that was part of a river navigation system. Together with a front range light positioned about 350 meters closer to shore, the two lights provided an aligned guide for ships entering the harbor.

Built in 1873, this lighthouse replaced earlier lights that were maintained privately by local subscription to guide ships up the Merrimack River. The system operated until 1961 when it was no longer needed for river navigation.

This lighthouse is part of Newburyport's maritime identity and shows how important shipping was to the town's economy and daily life. The structure reflects the community's connection to the sea and river navigation.

The location at the river mouth makes it easy to view this lighthouse from the water or from public harbor areas. You get the best views during daylight hours and from the surrounding shoreline.

Unlike many lighthouses, this one had no dedicated keeper's house and was instead maintained by local volunteers and later by the keeper from nearby Plum Island. This arrangement reveals how small harbor communities managed their navigation aids with limited resources.