Save the 'Statue of Liberty of the Sea'

Please help us save Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 — the “Statue of Liberty of the Sea.” For 39 years, Nantucket/LV-112 guided ships to and from Europe and U.S. East Coast ports of call, past the dangerous Nantucket Shoals, known as a ”graveyard of the Atlantic.” After serving as a U.S. Coast Guard “floating lighthouse” from 1936–75, anchored on the most remote and treacherous lightship station in the world, Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 is now a floating museum and learning center. Due to its historical significance, it is listed as a National Historic Landmark and National Treasure. It is open to the general public for tours and learning programs (visitor photos taken prior to COVID-19).


A floating schoolhouse
In essence, Nantucket/LV-112 is a floating schoolhouse. We offer learning programs in maritime history and the nautical, climate and oceanographic sciences in conjunction with acclaimed oceanographic institutions, activity-based and educational organizations including regional schools, scouting groups, underserved youth programs and adult learning groups. Although the pandemic recently has restricted students’ ability to attend school, our unique Candlepower Program — a classroom introduction to the ship followed by a hands-on visit — inspires schoolchildren to solve problems and cultivate learning skills. Aboard Nantucket Lightship/LV-112, history becomes real! Learning is fun!

Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 berthed in East Boston, 2019.

 The largest and most famous U.S. lightship

At 150 feet in length, Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 is the largest lightship in our nation’s former fleet of light vessels (LV) and the most famous lightship in the world. These floating lighthouses were stationed in waters where it was impractical to build a permanent lighthouse structure. Nantucket Lightships guided international shipping safely away from the treacherous Nantucket Shoals and into the sea lanes from 1854 to 1983. As the first beacon and U.S. landmark seen by immigrants from Europe, Nantucket Lightship earned the nickname “Statue of Liberty of the Sea.”

Our organization, the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM), is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Formed in 2009, we rescued the historic Nantucket/LV-112 from neglect and destruction; it was considered a "dead ship" — nothing on the ship was operational. We transported the orphaned and deteriorated ship from Long Island, NY, back to its original homeport of Boston Harbor, where from 1936–75 it had operated from the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Coast Guard First District–Base Boston.

The USLM has brought the Nantucket back to life. However, much more restoration work needs to be done to make this historic ship more functional as a floating learning center. Generous and committed  individuals, maritime organizations, private foundations,  corporations, the National Park Service and the City of Boston have made transformational contributions that have helped us achieve 70% of Nantucket/LV-112's restoration goal. In addition, many volunteers have committed their time and efforts to our historic cause. This extraordinary endeavor — which has had a positive impact and made a difference in peoples' lives — would not be possible without the charitable support of our donors.

Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 is protected by a U.S. Coast Guard covenant mandating that the former commissioned USCG floating lighthouse can only be operated as a museum and preserved as former lightship, open to the general public. It can only be owned by a 501(c)3 nonprofit  organization.  In essence, Nantucket/LV-112 has become a floating schoolhouse. Now a living museum ship, Nantucket/LV-112 draws New England schoolchildren and visitors from around the world to hear its remarkable place in maritime history. They learn it served as a guiding light beacon on Nantucket Shoals Lightship Station, anchored 100 miles from the U.S. mainland in international waters to guide ships past treacherous shallow waters.


 A living time capsule

Touring the ship’s interior, visitors see Nantucket/LV-112’s period, state-of-the-art construction, completed in 1936, including its unique double-hull construction to protect the lightship from hurricanes, horrific winter storms and potential collisions from incoming ship traffic navigating the busy sea lanes. They marvel at the courage of the crew, who could never leave the station, regardless of the worst sea and weather conditions. At special events, they experience the deep-throated foghorn and 400,000-candlepower light beacon, seen 23 miles at sea. To hear the foghorn and see the light beacon, click on video link below.


Presently, Nantucket/LV-112 is in dry-dock undergoing routine maintenance and its second major phase of restoration, which focuses on restoring critical interior structural components — stabilizing the ship for decades to come. For more information about this effort, click here. We are seeking to raise $350,000 to complete this phase. Once completed, the restoration of LV-112 will be approximately 70% accomplished. Your support now and in the future would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!