The Butler Flats Lighthouse was used as a replacement for the old Clark’s Point Light. Built in 1898, this lighthouse was designed by F. Hokinson Smith, who was also behind the Race Rock Light in Fisher’s Island South and the foundation of the Statue of Liberty. The construction of the lighthouse costs around $34,000 and was commissioned by the Congressman Sturtevant Randall.

The Butler Flats Lighthouse had two keepers during its first few years of the operation: Captain Amos Baker Jr. and his son, Charles A. Baker. The Bakers have been serving as keepers at Clark’s Point Light until this lighthouse came. According to the records, both Bakers were keepers of the lighthouse for about 80 years.

The lighthouse survived the great hurricane that hit New Bedford in 1938. After the retirement of Charles Baker in 1941, the Coast Guard took over the operations. The City of New Bedford later took control of the lighthouse in 1978. Before the transfer of ownership to the city, the lighthouse had a new automatic light and fog signal to protect the harbor from future hurricanes. A private organization was commissioned to preserve and maintain the light.

Years later, the lighthouse became more secured by installing an exterior lighting system in 1993. Security became tighter and it became difficult for anybody to enter the lighthouse to avoid vandalism. On the other hand, the old fifth-order Fresnel lens from the lighthouse is currently an exhibit at the Main Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine.

More than 600 people gathered on April 30, 1998 to mark the Butler Flats Lighthouse’s 100th birthday. The celebration became meaningful because a new, brighter optic was installed by Hugh Murray, a retired New Bedford wire inspector. He was one of the few people who worked on the protection and preservation of the lighthouse.

Visitors may have a glimpse of the Butler Flats Lighthouse at the New Bedford Martha’s Vineyard ferry and at the waterfront.