Of the two lighthouse towers originally erected on this site in 1798, the present 59-ft white stone and concrete conical tower is still active, operational, and since 1972, automated. The tower is located at the north end of tiny, isolated Baker's Island, about six miles east of Salem and three miles northeast of Marblehead Neck. The island is closed to the general public; the lighthouse is best seen by boat.
The lighthouse first used a fourth-order Fresnel lens, which was later replaced with its present 190mm plastic lens. The light alternates white and red flashes every 20 seconds. The fog signals one three-second blast every 30 seconds. The lighthouse is now managed by the Baker Island Association and the light itself is maintained by the Coast Guard.
