Cape Cod’s oldest lighthouse, locally
known as the Highland Light, is officially named "Cape Cod Light"
on the NOAA nautical chart for the region.
The Highlands of Truro have
been steadily eroding since 1797. When Thoreau visited Highland Light in
the 1850's, he wrote in "Cape Cod" about the extensive erosion
of the cliffs fronting the lighthouse. In 1990 only 128 feet of the original
500 foot setback remained. In July of 1996, when the Highland Light was only
100 feet away from the edge of the cliff, the lighthouse was moved to its
present location. The International Chimney Company of Buffalo, New York
lifted the 430 ton lighthouse, and pushed it on steel "I" beams,
lubricated with Ivory Soap, 453 feet to a safer location. The $1.54 million
dollar cost was shared among the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United
States Coast Guard, the National Park Service, and the Truro
Historical Society.
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