Nobska Lighthouse, Falmouth

The tower on the bluff at Woods Hole has stood since 1876, a cast-iron structure built to replace an earlier light that had occupied this ground since 1828. It sits where Buzzards Bay meets Vineyard Sound, and its flash is visible 17 miles out — a practical fact that explains why it was built here in the first place. The Friends of Nobska Light now hold the deed and run seasonal tours. Go during the open season and climb it.