Plum Island Lighthouse

The Friends of Newburyport Lighthouse open the lighthouse up for tours on a number of Sunday afternoons during the summer. (Check the local newspaper for open house announcements). The tours are free. There is free parking. Donations are welcomed. It offers some nice views of the mouth of the Merrimack River, Plum Island, and Newburyport Harbor.

The current 45 foot tall round lighthouse was built in 1898. The first pair of lighthouses on northern end of Island were built 1787. A detailed history can be found at Newburyport Harbor (Plum Island) Lighthouse.

Looking down the circular staircase inside the lighthouse

Detailed look at the lighthouse's wall construction. note how the boards are set an angle. It provides additional strength to the structure to withstand the ocean's gales.

 

North Jetty and Salisbury Beach State Reservation with many beach goers on this warm day.

Some fishermen on the North Jetty

 

Busy boat traffic in the river

 

View of the South Jetty

 

Ominous storm clouds gather along the river

 

 

 Storm clouds reflected in glass windows of the lighthouse

Gray Seal Pup on Beach

The stormy weather the first week of June forced a fourth month old gray seal pup to come ashore on the beach to wait out the rough seas. The day after the storm the seal was still on the beach. Strong rip currents made it too difficult to return to the open ocean waters. A wildlife monitor was on hand to answer questions and keep people a safe distance from the seal. While I was there the seal spent most of its time sleeping.

 

 

 

Track left by the seal crawling up the beach

 

Waiting out the rough seas

 

Taking a snooze