Courtesy of Coast Guard Historian's Office

Location: Southern tip of Dutch Island
1826 - presentLat 41 29 48 N - Long 72 24 17 W

Established: 1826

Original Lighthouse Constructed: 1826

Current Lighthouse Constructed: 1857

Deactivated: 1979

Original Illuminating Apparatus: Eight lamps and reflectors

Current Illuminating Apparatus: None

Height: 42 feet

Status: Inactive / Leased by American Lighthouse Foundation

Light Characteristic: Fixed White (1906)
Occulting Red every 10 second (1940)
Flashing Red every 10 second (1950)
Flashing Red every 6 second (1979)
None (2005)

Range: 12¾ miles (1906)
13 miles (1940)
12 miles (1950)
6 miles (1979)
None (2005)

Dutch Island Light was built on the southern end of the island in 1826. The light tower and its attached keeper's dwelling were built of slate and other stones found on the island. Early records are vague on the number of lamps first installed in the light. An 1838 report stated that it was equipped with eight lamps and reflectors.

After thirty years in service the light needed major repairs. In the Lighthouse Board's 1855 annual report, the condition of the lantern and tower were described as "extremely bad." The report recommended that "the lantern, illuminating apparatus, and stairs of the tower, if not the tower itself should be rebuilt."

A new tower was built in 1857. It was attached to the keeper's dwelling. A fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the new tower.

The light was automated in 1947 and the fourth order Fresnel lens was replaced with a 375mm lens. The keeper's dwelling was torn down sometime in the early 1960s. The area around the light was later turned over to the state of Rhode Island.

In 1972 the Coast Guard wanted to close the light. Captain B.E. Thompson said, "the light appears to have outlived its usefulness because it was out for a week last month and several days last Fall before someone reported it." After local residents and boaters protested the closing, the Coast Guard decided not to close it. The light remained in service until 1979, when vandals damaged it. The Coast Guard didn't repair it.

In April 2000 the Coast Guard leased the light to the American Lighthouse Foundation. They hope to raise enough money restore and preserve the light.