Lead record
Chart line A
Cape Alder Granite Tower
First lit in 1869, this masonry tower still carries its restored iron gallery above storm-cut cliffs.
History Along the Beacon Line
Explore archive photos, keeper stories, and preserved towers gathered into one trusted northern coast reference.
- Archive photos
- Keeper stories
- Preserved towers
What this archive lets you explore
Browse photographed evidence, lived keeper accounts, and mapped tower records in one source-aware reference designed for careful reading.
Archive photos
Study dated coastal images, material details, and captioned provenance that trace how each beacon changed across seasons and decades.
Keeper stories
Read concise narrative excerpts and documented recollections that reveal daily routines, storms, and resilience inside remote stations.
Preserved towers
Use the regional map to compare preserved towers by shoreline position, status notes, and nearby context for deeper place-based study.
Preserved towers
Northern coast tower notes
A quick archival preview of preserved lights before geographic exploration.
North reach
M-12
Harbor Needle Light
A slim 1890 cast-iron beacon retained for harbor bearing, with original access ladder details documented.
Tidal shelf
P-07
Breakwater Lantern House
Its timber service room survives as a rare example of practical keeper shelter on exposed stone works.
Outer point
R-03
Headland Twin Range
The paired alignment lights remain preserved, showing how mariners held a safe channel at night.
Coastal highlights
A quick read of the northern coast record
Preserved sites
Cataloged towers with location, condition notes, and source-linked references.
Archival eras
Photographs and records grouped by period to keep chronology easy to scan.
Storm-marked landmarks
Documented shoreline towers noted for weather exposure and repair history.
Keeper accounts
First-person excerpts, logs, and oral-history fragments with context notes.
Featured keeper story
Storm Watch Before First Light
Before dawn, Keeper Elin marked wind shift, lamp pressure, and fog density in a notebook kept beside the service hatch. Between rounds, she crossed the narrow iron walkway, checking each pane for salt buildup that could dim the beam over the outer shoals.
“On heavy-weather nights, the work was less heroic than steady: trim the wick, clear the glass, and keep the light true.”