Cape Ann Light Station (Thacher Island Lights)

Rising from rocky Thacher Island off Rockport, Massachusetts, this historic station features the only remaining twin lighthouses operating in the United States. Built in 1861, the matching granite towers replaced earlier structures dating to 1771. The lights guided mariners through treacherous waters where the shipwreck of Anthony Thacher in 1635 gave the island its name.

Visitor Access: The station is not open to the public, though the Thacher Island Association occasionally offers seasonal boat trips to the island.

Photography: Best captured at sunrise from Rockport’s headlands or by boat. Golden hour illuminates the distinctive twin silhouettes dramatically.

Nearby: Explore Rockport’s charming Bearskin Neck, Halibut Point State Park, and the iconic Motif No. 1 fishing shack.

Explore Nearby

• Halibut Point State Park — State Park in Massachusetts
• Sandy Point State Reservation — State Park in Massachusetts
• Meteor Lakes Byway — Scenic Byway in North Carolina
• Old Kings Highway (Route 6A) — Scenic Byway in Massachusetts
• Swamp Meadow Bridge — Covered Bridge in South Carolina