Buzzards Bay Entrance Light is a

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

located in open water at the entrance to Buzzards Bay, about four nautical miles west southwest of Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts. The light has a

racon Radar beacon (short: racon) is – according to ''article 1.103'' of the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) ITU Radio Regulations (RR) – defined as "A transmitter-receiver associated with a fixed navigational mark which, when trig ...

showing the letter "B". In 1996 the present structure replaced a Texas Tower built in 1961, which in turn had replaced the

lightships A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship that acts as a lighthouse. It is used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction. Although some records exist of fire beacons being placed on ships in Roman times, the ...

''Hens & Chickens'' (LV-5) and ''Vineyard Sound'' (LV-10). Since it sits in water 50 ft (15m) deep, a conventional lighthouse would have been difficult, forcing the choice of structure.

References

Lighthouses completed in 1997 Lighthouses completed in 1961 Lighthouses in Barnstable County, Massachusetts 1961 establishments in Massachusetts {{US-lighthouse-stub