Boston Light: Free Transfer in Review, Massachusetts (2026)

Questions about Boston Light

Is Boston Light still available?

Boston Light is no longer available to new applicants. GSA offered Boston Light at no cost on August 3, 2026 to eligible public, nonprofit, educational and community groups, and letters of interest closed October 2, 2026. GSA has not published who applied. If no one is selected, GSA can sell it to the public.

How much is Boston Light?

The transfer price is $0. The recipient pays in upkeep instead, for a seven-acre island and six buildings, and takes on preservation duties under the NHLPA. The Coast Guard keeps operating the light and fog signal. The Globe reports the process usually takes 12 to 18 months.

Where is Boston Light and how do you get there?

Little Brewster Island sits at the mouth of Boston Harbor, about 8 miles out from downtown Boston, and you reach it by boat. It belongs to Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, and public access is limited this year while storm damage is repaired.

What comes with Boston Light?

The whole seven-acre island and six structures: the tower, a boathouse, the 1884 keeper's house, a sound signal building, a cistern building and a small oil house. The Coast Guard keeps the beacon and fog signal. There is no private sale to a person or business in this round.

What is the sale history of Boston Light?

The first light went into service in 1716. British troops blew it up in 1776 and the current tower went up in 1783. Keeper Sally Snowman, the first woman to keep the light, retired in 2023. GSA offered the station at no cost on August 3, 2026.

1. 1716

   First light goes into service on Little Brewster

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2. 1776

   British forces blow up the tower as they leave Boston Harbor

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3. 1783

   Current tower built

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4. 1859

   Tower raised to 89 feet and fitted with a second-order lens

   NPS gives 1859 for the new lens and the raise. Wikipedia gives 1856.

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5. 2023

   Keeper Sally Snowman retires

   She was the first woman to keep the light.

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6. Aug 3, 2026

   GSA offers the station at no cost under the NHLPA $0

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7. Oct 2, 2026

   Deadline for letters of interest

   If no organization is selected, GSA can sell the property to the public. We found no public update after the deadline as of October 13, 2026.

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Who can take Boston Light?

Federal, state and local agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions and community development organizations can take Boston Light. A person or a company cannot apply in this round. Applicants had to send a letter of interest to GSA by October 2, 2026.

The National Park Service then sends the application, sets a site visit and reviews full applications, and the Secretary of the Interior picks a steward. If nobody qualifies, GSA can put the station up for public auction.

For how that works, see free lighthouse transfers under the NHLPA.

Why is a free lighthouse still expensive?

A free lighthouse is still expensive because the station is free and the work is not. Seven acres of island, six buildings and a tower that is more than 240 years old need paint, masonry, roofs and boat landings, all offshore.

A new steward also has to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s standards and keep the site open to the public. That is why the offer suits organizations with funding, staff and volunteers.

Who do you contact about Boston Light?

You contact GSA about Boston Light, because GSA handles federal offerings. The official links in the sources below name the contact and the next step. Lighthouse Dream is not the broker. Confirm dates, terms and access on the official notice before you act.