New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide

Block Island North Light

Block Island, Rhode Island

History / Bibliography / Cruises / Photos / Postcards

Get Block Island North Light prints and gift items from Shutterfly

Block Island North Light
© Jeremy D'Entremont

Location: Sandy Point, north end of Block Island

Nearest town: New Shoreham

41 13 40 N
71 34 33 W

MapQuest link

Station established: 1829; Present lighthouse built: 1868

Automated: 1956; Discontinued: 1973; Relighted: 1989

Construction material: Granite, iron; Height of tower: 55 feet; Height of focal plane: 61 feet

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

Characteristic: Flashing white every five seconds (currently on steel tower to the north of the lighthouse)

Other buildings still standing: Two storage buildings

Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. First floor converted into museum.

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 a museum (North Light Interpretive Center) in the lighthouse, but the tower is not open to the public. The interpretive center is open weekends from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, 10 to 5, and daily from late June to mid-September.

For more information contact:

Block Island North Light Association

P. O. Box 1662

Block Island, RI 02807

(401) 466-3200 

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 



History / Bibliography / Cruises / Photos / Postcards

Rhode Island Menu / New England Menu / Back to Contents

 

Vote for this site on Top 25 Lighthouse Web Sites List!

© 1997-2009 Jeremy D'Entremont. Do not reproduce any images or text from this website without permission of the author.