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Block Island North Light

Block Island, Rhode Island

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Block Island North Light
© Jeremy D'Entremont


Station established: 1829; Present lighthouse built: 1868

Automated: 1956; Discontinued: 1973; Relighted: 1989. Light removed to a skeletal tower in 2003.

Lighthouse relighted as a private aid to navigation in October 2010.

Characteristic: Flashing white every five seconds.

Optics: Seven oil lamps and 16-inch parabolic reflectors (1829); Fourth order Fresnel (1868)

Construction material: Granite, iron; Height of tower: 55 feet; Height of focal plane: 58 feet

Other buildings still standing: Two storage buildings

Location: Sandy Point, north end of Block Island
Nearest town: New Shoreham

41 13 40 N
71 34 33 W

MapQuest link

Accessibility: Block Island is accessible via ferry from Point Judith, RI, New London, CT, and Montauk, NY. The lighthouse is a long walk from the ferry terminal; a car or bicycle is recommended, or you can hire a taxi.  Reaching the lighthouse requires walking for about 20 minutes from the parking area on a sandy beach. There is an interpretive center in the first floor of the building.

For more information contact:

North Light Commission

PO Box 220

Block Island, RI 02807

(401) 466-3213

Related Sites

Block Island and More

Block Island Homepage

Block Island Tourism Council

Previous lighthouse: Watch Hill Light

Next lighthouse: Block Island Southeast Light

Books about Block Island

Click for Block Island, Rhode Island Forecast 



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