Coast Guard Seeks New Steward For Historic Boston Lighthouse
BOSTON (AP) — Wanted: new steward for one of nation's oldest lighthouses. The U.S. Coast Guard announced this week it will begin the process to transfer control of Light Station Boston, commonly known as Boston Light, to another entity.
The decision will "ensure the future historic preservation and public access" to the facility, which is 304-years old and is considered the oldest staffed lighthouse in country, according to the Coast Guard.
The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 allows lighthouses to be transferred at no cost to government agencies, nonprofit corporations and educational and community development organizations.
Boston Light sits on Little Brewster Island, roughly 9 miles from downtown Boston.
The original lighthouse was built by the British in 1716 but was destroyed during the American Revolutionary War. It was rebuilt by Massachusetts after the war ended.
The Coast Guard, which has been the steward of the lighthouse since 1939, says it will continue to maintain the facility's navigational light and fog signal.
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