Rhode Island Lighthouse History

Location: Nayatt Point at the Entrance to the Providence River
1828 - presentLat 41 43 30 N - Long 71 20 18 W

Established: 1828

Current Lighthouse Constructed: 1856

Deactivated: 1868

Original Illuminating Apparatus: Six Lamps and Reflectors

Current Illuminating Apparatus: None

Height: 25 feet

Status: Private Residence

Light Characteristic: Fixed White (1842)
None (2005)

Range: None (2005)

Nayatt Point Light and its dwelling were built in 1828. It was equipped with six lamps and reflectors. The light marked the channel between Nayatt Point and Conimicut Point. The tower was poorly constructed and was in need of constant repair.

An 1855 storm damaged the light. A new light was constructed in 1856. The lights lamps and reflectors were replaced with a fourth order Fresnel lens in 1863.

In 1866 the Lighthouse Board received a petition from captains and ship owners asking them to close Nayatt Point Light and move its light to a stone beacon on the shoal off Conimicut Point. The Board agreed with the petition and closed Nayatt Point and moved its light to Conimicut Light, The new light didn't have any quarters for the keepers. Its keepers used the Nayatt Point Keepers dwelling until 1883.

The Nayatt Point Light and keeper's dwelling was sold in 1890 for $4,000. Over the years the keeper's dwelling has been added to and modified so much that it bears little resemblances to the original structure. In 1997 the house was put up for sale. The asking price was $1,275,000.