Keep the Lights Shining!

First Female Lighthouse Keeper in America Being Honored
Kingston, MA
April 13, 2019

Please join Project Gurnet & Bug Lights as we honor Hannah Thomas, America’s First Female Lighthouse Keeper, by placing a bronze U. S. Lighthouse Service marker at her grave on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Church, 223 Main Street, Kingston, MA.

The first Female Lighthouse Keeper in America was at Plymouth (a.k.a. Gurnet) Light. Hannah Thomas assumed the duties of Keeper while her husband, Major General John Thomas, was away prior to the Revolutionary War. After the war, she was officially appointed Keeper and remained so for several years.

Hannah passed away 200 years ago on April 1, 1819 and is buried in the family tomb in Kingston.

The last Lighthouse Keeper in America, Sally Snowman, current Keeper of Boston Light, is also planning to attend!

Parking is very limited on Main Street, on the church side of Green Street and at the Beal House at 222 Main Street. If you are able, please park at the Reed Building, 33 Summer Street and walk to the ceremony. Carpooling is also encouraged. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs.

Light refreshments will be served.

Please respect the gravestones and markers in the Old Burial Ground. Currently there is a master plan being supervised by the Kingston Historic Commission, to renew and repair the Old Burial Ground for Kingston’s 300th in 2026.

Project Gurnet and Bug Lights is a non-profit, all volunteer organization whose main mission is to restore, preserve and maintain Duxbury Pier Light (Bug Light) and the Plymouth Light Station (Gurnet Light, Fort Andrew and the Keeper’s Cottage).