Courtesy of the National Archives

Location: Point Judith
1810 - present Lat 41 21 42 N - Long 71 28 54 W

Established: 1810

Original Lighthouse Constructed: 1810

Current Lighthouse Constructed: 1857

Automated: 1954

Original Illuminating Apparatus: Ten lamps with 15 inch reflectors

Current Illuminating Apparatus: Fourth Order Fresnel Lens

Height: 51 feet

Status: Active Aid to Navigation

Light Characteristic: Flashing White every 15 seconds (1906)

Group Occulting (3) White every 15 seconds (2005)
5 seconds flash, 2 seconds eclipse
2 seconds flash, 2 seconds eclipse
2 seconds flash, 2 seconds eclipse

Range: 13½ miles (1906)
16 miles (2005)

The first Point Judith Light, an octagonal shape wood tower, was built in 1810. There's no records of what kind of lighting apparatus was used in the light. The light was blown down during the a hurricane in 1815.

The light was replaced by stone tower in 1816. It is uncertain how many lamps and reflectors were first installed in the light. In 1838 Lt. George M. Bache reported that light had ten lamps with attached reflectors. They were also fitted with two-inch green bull’s-eye lenses. It was believed that they would intensify the light from the lamps. They didn’t and were later removed. The interior of light was very damp. During the winter ice would sometimes form on windows in the lantern room.

In 1857, the lighthouse was rebuilt. It was during this reconstruction that a keeper’s dwelling was attached to the light tower. A fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the new light.

The light was automated in 1954. The keeper’s dwelling was removed after the light was automated.

In 2000 the Point Judith underwent its first major renovation in a hundred years. The lantern was removed and repaired. It took four months to finish complete the work. A temporary light replaced it while it was dark.