Fort Pickering Light, also called Winter Island Light, has kept its post here since 1871. This lighthouse was built in 1871, and you can feel the weight of its history: it was discontinued by the Coast Guard in 1969, then relit as a private aid to navigation by the City of Salem in 1983. It is more than a beacon; it is a constituent part of the Winter Island Historic District and Archeological District, a place that was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1994.
Think of those dates as chapters — 1871, 1969, 1983, 1994 — that mark the changing uses and meanings of this site. As you stand here, imagine how decisions by the Coast Guard and the City of Salem shaped the life of this light. The name Fort Pickering Light and its alternate title, Winter Island Light, both tether it to the island and to the history around you.
There’s a particular comfort in knowing the light returned to service, now guided by local stewardship. Notice the light itself, relit in 1983 and still guiding vessels across Winter Island.