Nature Screen: Operation Lighthouse Rescue

On the picturesque bluffs at the very tip of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, disaster loomed. The historic Gay Head Lighthouse in the town of Aquinnah, was soon to become the next victim of the persistent erosion of the island’s cliffs. Built in 1856, the structure weighs more than 400 tons and soars 175 feet above the sea. But over the years, storms and the raging ocean have eroded the headland away. With fierce storms and hurricanes only intensifying as the global climate warms, this historic landmark was precipitously close to toppling into the ocean.

In the spring of 2015, after two years of planning and an extensive relocation campaign, a team of engineers attempted to move the iconic red brick structure 134 feet inland to safety. Join the team as they race to rescue this national treasure, and discover the geology, and archaeology they encountered as well as the technology they employed in this lighthouse rescue, an incredible feat of engineering.

Free with Museum Admission
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