North of Boston/Merrimack Valley has legendary lighthouses

Accessibility: The grounds are open all year; the lighthouse is sometimes open for open houses. The facility: Active Coast Guard aid to navigation; the lighthouse is owned by the City of Newburyport and is leased to the Friends of Plum Island Light, P.O. Box 381, Newburyport, MA 01950. Lighthouse built 1898. Occulting green light has two eclipses every 15 seconds.

Accessibility: The station is closed to the public, but there is a parking lot nearby and the breakwater next to the lighthouse is open all year, with good views of the lighthouse. There are private road signs posted in the Eastern Point neighborhood, but visitors are permitted to drive to the lighthouse. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation, duplex keeper's house serves as housing for Coast Guard families. Lighthouse built 1890. Light flashes white every five seconds

Accessibility: The lighthouse is located in Chandler Hovey Park on Marblehead Neck. The grounds are open all year; there is a small parking lot at the park. The lighthouse is open by special arrangement only. The facility: Active Coast Guard aid to navigation; tower is maintained by Town of Marblehead. Lighthouse built 1896. Light is fixed green.

Accessibility: The island is closed to the public; the lighthouse is best seen by boat. It can be seen distantly from the end of Bearskin Neck in Rockport. The facility: Active Coast Guard aid to navigation; island is owned by Massachusetts Audubon Society. Lighthouse built 1896. Light flashes green every six seconds; fog signal is one blast every 15 seconds.

Accessibility: Winter Island Park is open all year. In summer there is a parking fee, except for residents of Salem. To reach the park, follow Webb Street toward Salem Willows; turn right at the sign for Winter Island.
The facility: Lighthouse built 1871. Managed by Winter Island A Marine Recreation Park, 50 Winter Island Road, Salem, MA 01970; Light flashes white every four seconds.

Accessibility: There is limited, short-term parking for visitors at the lighthouse. Directions: From Route 127 in Gloucester, turn onto Leonard Street. Turn right at the sign that says Norwood Heights and follow to the end. Annisquam Light may also be viewed from across the river, from Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation; keeper's dwelling serves as housing for a Coast Guard family. Lighthouse built in 1897. Light flashes white every 7.5 seconds; fog signal is two blasts every 60 seconds.

Accessibility: Members of the public can visit using their own boat or kayak, but there is no dock on the island, only the ramp used by the Thacher Island Association's launch. Only small rowboats and kayaks are allowed to land on the ramp. Two guest moorings are available about 50 yards offshore. To use one of these moorings, call the caretaker in advance at 978-546-2326. Bring a dinghy to land on the ramp.
The facility: The south light is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The north light is managed by the Town of Rockport and the Thacher Island Association, P.O. Box 73, Rockport, MA 01966. A six-room apartment is available in the assistant keeper's dwelling; call 617-599-2590 for information and reservations. Those wishing to camp on the island may obtain a permit by calling 978-546-2326. Lighthouse built 1861. South light flashes red every five seconds; north light is fixed yellow; fog signal is two blasts every 60 seconds.

Accessibility: The lighthouses are not open except by special arrangement. The rear tower is easily seen on Water Street between Federal and Independent streets. The facility: Lighthouse built 1873.

Accessibility: The lighthouse is at the end of Derby Wharf, which is open all year. The lighthouse itself is not open to the public. The facility: Managed by the National Park Service, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 174 Derby St., Salem, MA 01970. Lighthouse built 1871. Light flashes red every six seconds.

Accessibility: The island is open to private boaters, but there is no landing facility except a small sandy beach. The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best seen by boat. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation; grounds managed by the City of Gloucester. Lighthouse built 1881. Light flashes three seconds red alternating with three seconds darkness; fog signal is two blasts every 20 seconds.