The Cape Ann Museum and Thacher Island Association are pleased to welcome the First Order Fresnel Lens, which stood atop the Island’s southern lighthouse for more than a century, back home to Cape Ann. 

Lampist James “Jim” Woodward will spend two weeks conserving and reassembling the lens in the Museum’s Maritime Gallery. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity and see the conservation effort for themselves. Information on related programming can be found below. 

First order Fresnel lenses are extremely rare. There are only 39 in the country, three of which are in New England. The only other one in Massachusetts is at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Edgartown. The lens was invented in the early 1820s by French physicist Augustine-Jean Fresnel. His design concentrated light to cast a beam which could be seen at a much greater distance. On Thacher Island this meant the light could be seen 22 miles at sea, triple the distance of earlier apparatus. The lens in question was built in Paris, France in 1860 and installed on Thacher Island the following year. 

The enormous glass structure stands 10 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter and is comprised of over a thousand prisms set in a bronze frame. It weighs just over a ton and will be installed in the Museum’s Maritime and Fisheries Gallery. 

James “Jim” Woodward, one of the few lampists working in America today, has successfully completed over 100 restoration projects including light stations in Assateaque, Virginia, Farralon Island, California and Fire Island, New York. 

Related Programming:

Thursday, May 9
Lighthouses, Fresnel Lenses and Lens Preservation, 7:00 p.m.
Lampist James “Jim” Woodword discuss historic lense conservation and his ongoing effort with the Museum’s new First Order Fresnel Lens.

Saturday, May 11
Family Fun Free Day: Light Our Way! 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The second Saturday of every month is free for families with school-aged children. Families are invited to the Children’s Activity Center to participate in lighthouse themed art, history and cultural activities. This program is free and open to the public. 

Fresnel Lens Talk, 3:00 p.m.
Join Paul St. Germain, President of the Thacher Island Association, for an illustrated lecture on the history of the Island and its twin lights. This program is free and open to the public.