Palmer Island Light

Palmer Island Light is a white conical stone tower standing roughly 7 meters tall on a stone pier within New Bedford Harbor. The structure guides vessels with a rhythmic flashing white light, marking the entrance and navigation path through the harbor.

Congress authorized construction of this lighthouse in 1849 to aid the growing ship traffic entering New Bedford Harbor. The stone tower was built to address navigation challenges in the harbor's shallow and complex waters.

The light marks New Bedford's deep connection to the sea and its importance as a whaling port when that industry shaped the entire region. Standing here, you sense the link between this simple tower and generations of seafaring families.

The lighthouse sits on an island within the harbor, so viewing it is best done from the waterfront or from the water itself. The tower is most visible from certain shore vantage points, and direct access to the structure itself may be restricted.

During the 1938 hurricane, this lighthouse remained the sole standing structure on the island after surrounding buildings were destroyed. Its stone construction allowed it to withstand one of the most severe natural disasters to hit the region.

Location: New Bedford

Inception: 1849

Height: 7 m

Made from material: stone

GPS coordinates: 41.62694,-70.90912

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21