List of lighthouses in Connecticut

The U.S. state of Connecticut has fourteen active lighthouses in the state, two of which are maintained as private aids; six are standing but inactive. The earliest lighthouse in the state was erected in 1760, but that tower, the first New London Harbor Light, was replaced in 1801, and its successor is the oldest surviving light in Connecticut, as well as the tallest.[1] The last officially recognized lighthouse in the state, the Avery Point Light, was constructed in 1943, but was not lit until the following year.[2] The Mystic Seaport Light, constructed in 1966, is a functioning replica housed with a historic Fresnel lens; it is classified as an unofficial and non-navigational aid.

Extant lighthouses

Name Location Coordinates Image Focal
Height 		Built[note 1] Deactivated Status
Avery Point Light Groton 41°18′55″N 72°03′49″W / 41.3153°N 72.0636°W Photograph of Avery Point Lighthouse from 2000. 55 ft (17 m)[3] 1944[3] 1967-2006[3] Active; private aid
Black Rock Harbor Light Fayerweather Island 41°08′32″N 73°13′02″W / 41.1423°N 73.2173°W A black and white photograph of Black Rock Harbor Light 44 ft (13 m)[4] 1808/1823[5]:49 1932[5]:49 Relit in 2000 as non-navigational light.[6]
Falkner Island Light Guilford 41°12′44″N 72°39′13″W / 41.2121°N 72.6536°W A black and white photograph of Faulkner Island Light 94 ft (29 m)[7]:30 1802[7]:30 — Active
Five Mile Point Light[note 2] New Haven 41°14′56″N 72°54′14″W / 41.2490°N 72.9038°W[9] A photograph of Five Mile Point Light 97 ft (30 m)[7]:30 1805/1845[7]:30 1877[7]:30 Inactive
Great Captain Island Light Greenwich 40°58′57″N 73°37′25″W / 40.9825°N 73.6235°W A photograph of Great Captain Island Light 51 ft (16 m) 1830/1868[7]:30 1970[7]:30 Non-navigational light[10]
Greens Ledge Light Norwalk 41°02′30″N 73°26′38″W / 41.0418°N 73.4438°W A photograph of Greens Ledge Light 62 ft (19 m)[7]:31 1902[7]:31 — Active
Lynde Point Light[note 3] Old Saybrook 41°16′17″N 72°20′35″W / 41.2715°N 72.3430°W A photograph of Lynde Point Light 71 ft (22 m)[7]:32 1803/1838[7]:32 — Active
Morgan Point Light Noank 41°18′59″N 71°59′22″W / 41.3164°N 71.9894°W[11] A photograph of Morgan Point Light 61 ft (19 m)[12] 1831/1868[7]:33 1919[7]:33 Inactive
Mystic Seaport Light Mystic, Connecticut 41°12′51″N 71°34′52″W / 41.2141°N 71.5811°WA photograph of the Mystic Seaport Light 26 ft (7.9 m)[13] 1966[14] — Active and non-navigational aid
New London Harbor Light New London 41°19′00″N 72°05′23″W / 41.3166°N 72.0898°W A photograph of the New London Harbor Light 89 ft (27 m)[7]:34 1760/1801[7]:34 — Active
New London Ledge Light New London 41°18′21″N 72°04′39″W / 41.3059°N 72.0774°W A photograph of the New London Ledge Light 58 ft (18 m)[7]:34 1760/1909[7]:34 — Active
Pecks Ledge Light Norwalk 41°04′39″N 73°22′11″W / 41.0774°N 73.3697°W A photograph of Pecks Ledge Light 61 ft (19 m)[7]:35 1906[7]:35 — Active
Penfield Reef Light Fairfield 41°07′02″N 73°13′20″W / 41.1171°N 73.2221°W A photograph of the Penfield Reef Light 51 ft (16 m)[7]:35 1874[7]:35 — Active
Saybrook Breakwater Light[note 4] Old Saybrook 41°15′48″N 72°20′34″W / 41.2632°N 72.3427°W A photograph of the Saybrook Breakwater Light 58 ft (18 m)[7]:36 1886[7]:36 — Active
Sheffield Island Light Norwalk 41°02′56″N 73°25′09″W / 41.0488°N 73.4192°W[15] A photograph of the Sheffield Island Light 51 ft (16 m)[16] 1828/1868[16] 1902[7]:36 Inactive
Southwest Ledge Light New Haven 41°14′04″N 72°54′44″W / 41.2344°N 72.9122°W A photograph of the Southwest Ledge Light 57 ft (17 m)[17] 1877[7]:37 — Active
Stamford Harbor Ledge Light Stamford 41°00′49″N 73°32′34″W / 41.0136°N 73.5428°W A postcard with a photograph of the Stamford Harbor Ledge Light 80 ft (24 m)[18] 1882[7]:38 1953[7]:38 Active; private aid
Stonington Harbor Light Stonington 41°19′43″N 71°54′20″W / 41.3285°N 71.9055°W[19] A photograph of the Stonington Harbor Light 62 ft (19 m)[20] 1823/1840[7]:39 1889[7]:39 Inactive; museum[7]:39
Stratford Point Light Stratford 41°09′07″N 73°06′12″W / 41.1520°N 73.1032°W A photograph of the Stratford Point Light 52 ft (16 m)[7]:39 1822/1881[7]:39 — Active
Stratford Shoal Light Long Island Sound east of Bridgeport 41°03′35″N 73°06′05″W / 41.0598°N 73.1013°W A photograph of the Stratford Shoal Light 60 ft (18 m)[7]:40 1877[7]:40 — Active
Tongue Point Light[note 5] Bridgeport 41°10′00″N 73°10′39″W / 41.1666°N 73.1775°W A photograph of Tongue Point Light 31 ft (9.4 m)[7]:29 1895[7]:29 1954[7]:29 Active[7]:29

Notes

  1. ↑ If there is a second date, it represents the date the most recent tower was lit.
  2. ↑ Also known as New Haven Harbor Light.[8]:85
  3. ↑ Also known as Saybrook Inner Light[8]:115
  4. ↑ Also known as Saybrook Outer Light[8]:121
  5. ↑ Also known as Bridgeport Breakwater Light or Bug Light[8]:61

References

  1. ↑ "Lighthouses of the United States: Connecticut". Russ Rowlett. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Historic Information: The Avery Point Lighthouse". Avery Point Lighthouse Society. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 D'Entremont, Jeremy. "Avery Point Lighthouse, Groton, Connecticut". Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Inventory of Historic Light Stations: Black Rock Harbor (Fayerweather Island) Light". National Park Servicde. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 D'Entremont, Jeremy. The Lighthouses of Connecticut. Commonwealth Editions.
  6. ↑ "Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Connecticut Lighthouses--Black Rock Harbor Light". National Park Service. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 Foster, Kevin (1994). 1994 Inventory of Historic Light Stations. U.S. Department of the Interior. p. 386. ISBN 0-16-045100-0.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 D'Entremont, Jeremy (2005). The Lighthouses of Connecticut. Commonwealth Editions. ISBN 978-1889833705.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Kraig. "Five Mile Point (Old New Haven), CT". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Great Captain Island Lighthouse, CT - LighthouseFriends". LighthouseFriends.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ Anderson, Kraig. "Morgan Point, CT". LighthouseFriends.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ D'Entremont, Jeremy. "Morgan Point Lighthouse, New Haven, Connecticut". Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Sentinels of the Sea: Lighthouses". Mystic Seaport. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  14. ↑ Anderson, Kraig. "Mystic Seaport (Replica) Lighthouse". LighthouseFriends.com. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ Anderson, Kraig. "Sheffield Island, CT". LighthouseFriends.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 D'Entremont, Jeremy. "Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Norwalk, Connecticut". Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Southwest Ledge (New Haven Breakwater) Light". National Park Service. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  18. ↑ D'Entremont, Jeremy. "Stamford Harbor Ledge Lighthouse, Stamford, Connecticut". Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  19. ↑ Anderson, Kraig. "Stonington Harbor, CT". LighthouseFriends.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  20. ↑ D'Entremont, Jeremy. "Stonington Harbor Lighthouse, Stonington, Connecticut". Retrieved March 18, 2014.