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Block
Island North Light
Location: North
End of Block Island
 1867 - present Lat 41
13 42 N - Long 71 34 36 W
Established: 1829
Original Lighthouse
Constructed: 1829
Current Lighthouse
Constructed: 1867
Automated: 1955
Deactivated: 1973 -1989
Original Illuminating
Apparatus: Fourth Order Fresnel Lens
Current Illuminating
Apparatus: VBR
25
Height: Lighthouse:
52 feet
 Skeleton tower: 20 feet (1973 - 1989)
Status: Active Aid to Navigation/Interpretive
Center
Light Characteristic:
Lighthouse: Fixed White (1906)
 Group Occulting (3) White every 13.5 seconds (1924)
2 seconds flash, 1.5 seconds eclipse
2
seconds flash, 1.5 seconds eclipse
5
seconds flash, 1.5 seconds eclipse
Flashing White every 5 seconds (2005)
 Skeleton tower:
Flashing White every 5 seconds (1973 - 1989)
Range: Lighthouse:
13 miles (1906)
 13 miles (2005)
 Skeleton tower: 13 miles (1973 - 1989)
The first Block Island North Lighthouse was built at the Northern
tip of Block Island in 1829. It had two towers, one at each
end of the light. After a few years, erosion threatened to bring
the lighthouse down.
In 1837, a granite lighthouse was built further inland. It also
had a tower at both ends of the keeper's dwelling. The illuminating
apparatus in each tower consisted of seven lamps with parabolic
reflectors.
Erosion, a constant problem at the northern tip of Block Island,
also threatened the second light. In 1857, a granite tower was
built farther inland. It was equipped with a fourth order Fresnel
lens. This light was soon threatened by erosion too. A new light
was needed.
The present light, a granite keeper's dwelling with a tower attached
to the roof, was built in 1867. It was equipped with a fourth
order Fresnel lens. The light was automated in 1955. In 1973
the Coast Guard closed the lighthouse and replaced it with a
light on a skeleton tower.
The town of New Shoreham acquired the lighthouse in 1984. After
years of hard work the light was relighted on August 5, 1989.
Today the light once again serves an active aid to navigation.
The lighthouse is maintained by the North Light Commission.
During the summer visitors can visit a museum on the first floor
of the light and see the light's Fresnel lens.
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