Brant Point Lighthouse is the second-oldest in the United States and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. Still in operation, the 26-foot tower sits close to the water’s edge on a spit of land forming the entrance to Nantucket’s boat harbor. About a 15-minute walk from the center of town, this busy spot is a fun place to watch the ferries and yachts come and go. While the lighthouse itself is closed to the public, the grounds are open and are popular for fishing on the point. Dip your toes into the water and have a picnic. The elevated wooden walkway leading to the lighthouse is a favorite photography spot for visitors and wedding parties. If it’s a race weekend, find out the departure times and grab a seat to watch the elegant boats sail through to their starting point. Nearby Brant Point Grill in the White Elephant Hotel is the place to get a lobster roll and bloody Mary before heading back to town. (Nantucket has two other, equally Instagram-worthy, lighthouses: Great Point marks the end of the elbowed tip and requires an off-road vehicle or a boat to get there; Sankaty, built in 1850 and relocated in 2007 to prevent it falling off the eroding cliff, warned sailors and fisherman of the treacherous shoals off the coast.)
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See the Country's Second-Oldest Lighthouse
Brant Point Lighthouse is the second-oldest in the United States and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. Still in operation, the 26-foot tower sits close to the water’s edge on a spit of land forming the entrance to Nantucket’s boat harbor. About a 15-minute walk from the center of town, this busy spot is a fun place to watch the ferries and yachts come and go. While the lighthouse itself is closed to the public, the grounds are open and are popular for fishing on the point. Dip your toes into the water and have a picnic. The elevated wooden walkway leading to the lighthouse is a favorite photography spot for visitors and wedding parties. If it’s a race weekend, find out the departure times and grab a seat to watch the elegant boats sail through to their starting point. Nearby Brant Point Grill in the White Elephant Hotel is the place to get a lobster roll and bloody Mary before heading back to town. (Nantucket has two other, equally Instagram-worthy, lighthouses: Great Point marks the end of the elbowed tip and requires an off-road vehicle or a boat to get there; Sankaty, built in 1850 and relocated in 2007 to prevent it falling off the eroding cliff, warned sailors and fisherman of the treacherous shoals off the coast.)
