Bishop and Clerks Light, Offshore lighthouse in Hyannis Harbor, Massachusetts, United States
Bishop and Clerks Light is a cylindrical lighthouse with a white and orange exterior standing about 30 feet high on a granite foundation in Hyannis Harbor. The structure sits on the dangerous shoals where rocks lie just below the water surface, posing a serious hazard to passing vessels.
The lighthouse was built in 1858 to replace an earlier lightship that marked the dangerous rocks. The new structure was needed because ships had frequently wrecked on these submerged boulders in earlier decades.
Three generations of the Peak family served as keepers at this lighthouse, maintaining maritime traditions and navigational safety in Barnstable County waters.
The white light flashes every 6 seconds and serves as a guide through the hazardous zone, providing essential navigation help for ships in the area. Visitors should know the structure sits on a shoal and is only visible from the water.
The original lighthouse housed living quarters for three keepers who worked 20-day shifts before receiving 10 days of shore leave. This rhythm of long work periods on the isolated shoal created a demanding routine for the staff.
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