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Description
Thacher Island is named for Rev. Anthony Thacher who was aboard a vessel with 21 others that ship wrecked on the island on Aug. 14, 1635. Thacher and his wife were the only survivors of the ship wreck. Everyone else on the vessel, including the Thacher's four children, perished in the wreck.
The lightstation was established in 1771 and the 124 foot twin granite towers were erected in 1861. The fog bell was added to the station in 1853 and is recorded to have saved the life of President Wilson in 1919 when returning to the US on the S.S. America. The captain of his vessel heard the fog bell and at the last moment was able to divert the ship in the fog to avoid the island.
The north tower was darkened in 1932 but has since been relighted.
The Thacher Island Assoc. has done extensive restoration and renovation work on the island.
The first photo on this page is the south light. The other single tower photo is the north light.