Prominent Nobska Point, at the southwest corner of Cape Cod, was an ideal place for a lighthouse. Congress appropriated $3,000 for that purpose on May 23, 1828. The first lighthouse was a typical Cape Cod ­style structure with an octagonal lantern on top of the keeper's house. In 1876, the lighthouse was rebuilt as a 40-foot cast-iron tower lined with brick, with a fifth-order Fresnel lens. 

Osborne Hallett was in charge from 1955 to 1968, and Joseph Hindley was his assistant. Hindley took over as keeper in 1968. When he retired in 1973, Hindley was believed to be the last civilian lighthouse keeper in New England. The lighthouse has been "adopted" by the members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-02, and there are occasional public open houses in season.