East Chop Lighthouse

The north side of Martha's Vineyard Island is notched by a large V-shaped bay forming a harbor for the town of Vineyard Haven (originally called Homes Hole). The harbor is guarded on the east and west sides by capes known as East and West Chop. Since the beginning of our country, both chops have witnessed the passing of thousands of vessels. Until the construction of the Cape Cod Canal in the 1940s, the primary route of vessels transiting from Portland, Maine, in the north to New York and points south was past these two chops.