Aquinnah is on track to acquire the 1856 brick lighthouse, which needs to be relocated. Photography: Timothy Johnson
The town of Aquinnah is one step closer to taking ownership of the Gay Head Light, with the Department of the Interior approving the town’s application to take possession of the endangered lighthouse.
Once approval comes from the General Services Administration, the town will become owner of the 1856 brick lighthouse perched on the westernmost edge of the Island. One of the town’s first acts as steward will be to move the lighthouse, which is now less than 50 feet away from an eroding bluff.
In March, the town submitted an initial application to the federal government to take possession of the lighthouse. The U.S. Coast Guard declared the lighthouse surplus property last August because it was no longer mission critical. The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act allows the Coast Guard to transfer ownership of surplus lighthouses at no cost to qualified state or local governments or nonprofit organizations.