The iconic red-and-white daymark pattern was applied to the tower in 1940 to differentiate it from other lighthouses.
It is the only lighthouse on Cape Cod that displays a red-and-white color scheme.
The original 1877 Fresnel lens was replaced by a modern rotating optic in 1981.
The lighthouse was saved from a 1996 relocation project funded entirely by private donations and nonprofit efforts.
The site is located directly on the edge of a cliff that recedes several feet annually due to coastal erosion.
It is frequently featured in regional art and photography due to its high contrast against the ocean backdrop.
Nauset Lighthouse is a distinctive 48-foot cast-iron tower distinguished by its red-and-white paint scheme, which was added in 1940 to aid daytime navigation. Originally built in Chatham in 1877, the lighthouse was moved to its current Eastham location in 1923 to replace a series of Three Sisters Lighthouses lost to erosion. The structure was moved 300 feet inland in 1996 to protect it from the encroaching Atlantic Ocean cliffs. It features a unique Kerosene-vapor lamp converted to electric power in the mid-20th century. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation for the U.S. Coast Guard. Tours provide access to the lantern room for views of the Atlantic coastline and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
The grassy area immediately to the north of the lighthouse provides the best angle to capture the tower with the ocean as a background.
Arrive early to secure parking as the lot is shared with beachgoers and fills rapidly.
Check the official website for tour availability before visiting, as access to the lantern room is weather-dependent.
Bring a windbreaker or layers, as the cliffside location is significantly windier than the surrounding inland areas.
Attempting to walk down the steep, unstable cliff path directly in front of the lighthouse; use the marked public staircase to access the beach.
Tours are available seasonally, typically starting in late spring and ending in late autumn; the lighthouse grounds are open year-round.
Wear sturdy, flat-soled footwear as the stairs to the lantern room are steep and narrow; refrain from touching the historic lantern optics.
