Boston Lighthouse Webcams

Boston Lighthouse - Little Brewster Island | credit: NPS

Four new webcams have been installed on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor. Viewable by the public, the cams provide panoramic real-time views from Boston Lighthouse of the island and surrounding areas.

The cameras enhance maritime safety by providing a picture of real-time sea conditions and visibility at the outer reaches of the harbor, allowing mariners to make informed decisions about their trip prior to leaving the dock.

The webcam’s installation is the result of cooperative efforts between the U.S. National Park Service, Hull Lifesaving Museum, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston and Aids-to-Navigation Team Boston.  

Originally built in 1716, Boston Light is the nation’s oldest lighthouse station. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and is still an active aid-to-navigation.

The lighthouse casts a 27-mile light beam through a second-order revolving Fresnel lens that was installed in 1859.

Looking North

Looking northward from Boston Light, the camera displays the northern approaches into Boston Harbor, with Graves Light visible into the distance. The smaller Brewster Islands, Middle and Outer, are in the midground, with the Shag Rocks on the near right.

Looking East

Looking east from Boston Light, the camera captures Massachusetts Bay.

Looking West

The westward view shows downtown Boston in the distance, with several islands including Great Brewster and Georges Island in the midground.

Looking South

 The southern view captures the town of Hull across the Nantasket Roads shipping route.

Free public access to the webcams is available at:

www.nps.gov/boha/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

Related Information

Massachusetts

New England Facts

NOAA Marine Operations Center - Naval Station Newport Rhode Island

NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER | credit: NOAA

The Newport Rhode Island waterfront will become the home of another important U.S. government maritime facility.

In December 2023, the U.S. Navy, on behalf of NOAA, awarded $146,778,932 to Skanska USA, from New York, to design and build a new NOAA facility on Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island.

This facility will eventually be the new home of NOAA’s Marine Operations Center - Atlantic. 

While the details of the facility’s design are still being finalized, requirements include having a pier that will accommodate four large vessels, a floating dock for smaller vessels, space for vessel repairs and parking and a building to be used for shoreside support and as a warehouse. Construction is anticipated to be completed by 2027. 

The contract to design and build the new NOAA facility was awarded following a request for proposals that was open from January to August 2023. 

The design and construction of the facility is funded in part by the Inflation Reduction Act. Funding supports community efforts to prepare, adapt and build resilience to weather and climate events.

The act also supports improvements to weather and climate data and services, and NOAA’s fleet of research airplanes and ships. 

“By co-locating with Naval Station Newport, we are able to make our ship operations more efficient and increase long-term cost savings through sharing common capabilities,” said NOAA Corps Rear Admiral Nancy Hann, director of NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.

NOAA’s fleet of 15 research and survey ships are operated, managed and maintained by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations. The fleet supports a wide range of marine activities, including fisheries surveys, nautical charting and ocean and climate studies.

Two of NOAA's most important research vessels are based out of Newport, Rhode Island:

NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow is a fisheries survey vessel built specifically for NOAA to support the study and monitoring of marine fisheries and marine mammals. Henry B. Bigelow operates along the northeast and mid-Atlantic coast, from Maine to North Carolina.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is dedicated to exploring the open ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge about the ocean. Missions of the 224-foot vessel include mapping, site characterization, reconnaissance, advancing technology, education, and outreach.

source: NOAA

Related Information

Rhode Island

Coastal Connecticut Waterfront Experiences

New London Ledge Light | credit USCG

An incredible range of waterfront experiences can be found in Coastal Connecticut.

This article touches on a few of the state's most interesting destinations, including waterfront cities, historic towns, coastal resorts, beaches, seashores, and wild areas.

Connecticut is New England's southernmost state. Located on the western side of Long Island Sound, the coast of Connecticut is famous for its sandy beaches, scenic shorelines, and waterfront towns.

New London, Old Saybrook, New Haven, Bridgeport, Mystic, and other coastal communities are among the hundreds of possible destinations that are suitable for day trips, weekend getaways, and summer vacations.

Most Connecticut coastal towns are located within minutes of I-95, which provides travelers with reasonable access.

For northbound motorists, Greenwich is a good first stop off for food, shopping, and other needs. Nearby, Old Greenwich is known for its seaside views. At Greenwich Point, travelers can explore the park, public beaches, and Bruce Museum Seaside Center.

Norwalk is another coastal town with plenty of things to do. Oyster Shell Park has waterfront pedestrian paths with nautical works of art, harbor views along the Norwalk River, and educational exhibits. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk includes displays of fish, crustaceans, and other marine life.

At Norwalk Beach, a pier provides view of Long Island and access for saltwater fishing. The annual Norwalk Boat Show and Oyster Festivals are popular with locals and tourists.

Not far to the east is Sherwood Island State Park. The 235 acre includes beaches, access for saltwater fishing, picnic areas and a 9/11 memorial.

Near Madison, Hammonasset Beach State Park is a haven for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. As Connecticut's largest shoreline park, it includes over two miles of sandy beaches on Long Island Sound.

Located along the Thames River, New London is one of Connecticut's oldest cities. Its waterfront area offers a variety of attractions and experiences. Ferry service from New London includes routes to Long Island and Block Island. Both ferry trips provide travelers with extensive views of Long Island Sound.

Further Reading

Connecticut Tourism Information

Maine Sea Grant Working Waterfront and Coastal Communities Promotion

Maine Sea Grant recently announced a competition to generate great ideas in support of Maine's working waterfront and coastal communities. Awards are available of up to $15,000.

Buoy Maine will focus on strengthening coastal/marine seafood and tourism related industries, highlighting the Maine Brand and experience, building resiliency, and helping Maine's coastal businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnerships are encouraged.

Any business or non-profit connected to the Maine seafood or tourism industries or the heritage of its fishing communities are eligible to apply.

The competition will consist of three phases:

Participants will pitch their ideas via the Buoy Maine Virtual Pitch Competition by September 14, 2020.

Applicants that advance to the Pitch at the Buoy Maine Pitch Competition in October will share their idea in a 5-minute pitch. A judges panel will evaluate pitches, and awardees will receive up to $15,000 to further develop their innovation over the next 6 months. Pitches that receive awards will be made public after the Pitch event.

At the Share at the Buoy Maine Finale, selected awardees will share the product or project at a virtual public celebration, including lessons learned, successes, challenges, and how their ideas may support others. The finale will also be a networking event with investors.

For more information, visit https://seagrant.umaine.edu/funding-opportunities/buoy-maine/

source: Maine Department of Marine Resources

Mayflower Voyage - Plymouth Colony 400th Anniversary

Mayflower Replica Attribution:

User: Stilfehler at wikivoyage shared [CC BY-SA 3.0]

Massachusetts will host a series of events in 2020 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of two historic events that helped shape the United States of America; the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony.

Selected by the state’s Plymouth 400 Commission, the events will highlight the historical significance of the English Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth in 1620, and interactions with the Native American Wampanoag people.

The series of 400th anniversary events will showcase Massachusetts’ vibrant culture, cuisine, history and natural beauty.


400th anniversary activities for 2020 include:

• official Plymouth 400 opening ceremony in Plymouth


• the sailing of the Mayflower to Boston, Provincetown and Plymouth


• a maritime festival hosted by Mayflower Sails 2020 in Boston Harbor alongside the USS Constitution and Mayflower


• a homecoming festival in Plymouth with visiting ships and maritime activities


• Wampanoag Ancestors Walk, led by the Wampanoag tribes of Massachusetts


• Official State House Salute to the 400th Anniversary


• Embarkation Festival


• Indigenous History Conference and Powwow


• Illuminate Thanksgiving 2020


• a moving exhibit entitled “Our Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History", is traveling around Massachusetts and New England in 2020


• the United Kingdom and The Netherlands are also participating by sending official delegations to Massachusetts

In preparation for 400th anniversary celebrations, the Plimoth Plantation has completed a three-year, $11.2 million restoration of the historic wooden sailing ship Mayflower.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to massvacation.com.

sources: Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, plymouth400inc.org, Plimoth Plantation