Rhode Island Lighthouse History

© 2004 R. Holmes

Location: Watch Hill
1856 - present Lat 41 18 12 N - Long 71 51 30 W

Established: 1807

Original Lighthouse Constructed: 1808

Current Lighthouse Constructed: 1856

Automated: 1986

Original Illuminating Apparatus: Fourth Order Fresnel Lens

Current Illuminating Apparatus: VRB-25

Height: 45 feet

Status: Active Aid to Navigation/Museum

Light Characteristic: Fixed White Alternating Group flashing (2) Red every 15 seconds (1924) Fixed White for 10 seconds, 1.1 seconds eclipse
0.3 seconds Red flash, 2.2 seconds eclipse
0.3 seconds Red flash, 1.1 seconds eclipse

Alternating White and Red every 5 seconds (2005)

Range: 13 miles (1924)
16 miles (2005)

Watch Hill is one of the oldest lighthouse sites in America. The Colony of Rhode Island built the first light on the site in the mid-1700s. A storm destroyed light in 1781. It was not rebuilt.

In 1794, Jeremiah Olney, Collector of Customs at Providence, received two letters asking that a light be built at the entrance to Long Island Sound. One letter signed by fifty-four captains and ship owners wanted it placed on Little Gull Island. The other letter from Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, wanted it built at Watch Hill. Both sides argued for years before the matter was finally settled by building lights at both sites.

A thirty-five feet wooden tower was built at Watch Hill in 1808. A five-room keeper's dwelling was built near the tower. It is not known how many lamps and reflectors were first installed in the light. A report in 1838 stated that the light contained ten lamps with parabolic reflectors arranged around two rims of iron.

In 1856, a granite tower with an attached keeper's dwelling was built at Watch Hill. A fourth order Fresnel lens was placed in the new tower.

Watch Hill lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation. The light's Fresnel lens was removed in 1986 when the Coast Guard automated the light. The Watch Hill Lighthouse Keepers Association now maintains the Keeper's house.