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.
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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:
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Block Island North Light Association |
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P. O. Box 1662 |
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Block Island, RI 02807 |
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(401) 466-3200 |
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