Boston Light is about to get a new landlord—or, more accurately, a new steward. The federal government is offering the seven-acre Light Station Boston on Little Brewster Island at no cost to qualifying public, nonprofit, educational, and community-development organizations while the Coast Guard keeps the navigational beacon and fog signal running.
Interested organizations have until October 2, 2026, to submit letters of interest, according to The Boston Globe. The Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security have determined that the historic property is excess to their broader needs, even though the light itself remains very much on the job.
A Free Transfer With A Very Expensive To-Do List
This is not a conventional waterfront real estate listing. Under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, eligible organizations can receive historic light stations at no cost, but they must accept preservation and maintenance responsibilities tied to the property.
The National Park Service says the process is competitive, with the General Services Administration issuing a notice of availability and reviewing qualified applicants. If no suitable steward is selected, GSA can move to a public sale by competitive bid or auction—meaning the lighthouse may eventually face a more traditional real estate ending.
Little Brewster Island sits at the mouth of Boston Harbor and includes the lighthouse tower, keeper’s house, and other station buildings. The island is part of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, but the National Park Service currently says public access is limited because of maintenance following winter storms.
Boston Light Has Already Survived A Revolution
Boston Light first went into service in 1716, making it the first lighthouse established in America. The original tower was damaged during the Revolutionary War and destroyed by British forces in 1776, before the current structure was rebuilt in 1783, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s historical account.
The tower was later raised and fitted with a second-order Fresnel lens, which remains part of the station’s historic identity. The site has also been designated a National Historic Landmark, adding another layer of preservation expectations for whoever takes responsibility for the island.
The Beacon Will Remain A Coast Guard Job
The handoff would not turn Boston Light into a private decorative lighthouse or shut down its maritime role. As reported by The Boston Globe, the Coast Guard will continue maintaining and operating both the light beacon and fog signal.
That split is the important part of the deal: a new steward would inherit the land, buildings, and preservation burden, while federal mariners keep control of the navigational equipment. The arrangement is designed to preserve Boston Light’s public and historic value without requiring the Coast Guard to remain the full-time property manager.
The search for a steward follows the 2023 retirement of Sally Snowman, who had served as Boston Light’s keeper and was the Coast Guard’s last lighthouse keeper, according to the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. For now, Boston’s oldest light is still flashing across the harbor; the question is who will take care of everything beneath it.
