Minots Ledge Lighthouse marks the route to Boston Harbor. It sits all alone, surrounded by water. Do you see the boat hanging
in its davits? The keepers used the boat to go ashore. A lighthouse tender came every few months to leave fresh water and
supplies. What would it have been like to transport water and supplies up that ladder? Could it have been done in rough weather?
Four male keepers alternated duty at the Minots Ledge Station. While three stayed on the station, one took leave to be
with his family on the mainland. How do you suppose they amused themselves when they were not on duty? Radio and TV were not
invented until the 20th century. Telephones were not available until the close of the 19th century.
Did they play cards, checkers, chess? Write letters? Read? Do you imagine that they got tired of each other’s company?
Lighthouse Maps
Second Lighthouse District
Can you find Minots Ledge Lighthouse on this map? What body of water did it guide ships into?
Click on map to view larger image
Source: 1881 Annual Report of the U.S. Light-House Board
The first tower at Minots Ledge with its straight-pile foundation was destroyed in a storm.
The replacement tower was built of sturdier granite.
This Reader's Guide is intended to be used with Lighthouses Short and Tall, a book for readers 11 and up written by Mary Louise and Candace Clifford. It is available from the publisher,
Cypress Communications, by using their book order form.
