The Beavertail Lighthouse was built in 1749 and is the third lighthouse to be built in the country.
The Beavertail Lighthouse is located at the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Jamestown, Rhode Island and was previously known as the Newport Light. The British destroyed the original building in 1779 when they retreated from Rhode Island.
Lighthouse Tower
The present lighthouse was built in 1856 and is constructed with granite planks. The granite lighthouse tower is 45 feet tall with the height of the light at 64 feet above the ground level which make the light 98 feet above sea level. The light was automated in 1972 and the light characteristic is a white light that flashes every six seconds.
Original Site
The foundation of the first lighthouse still remain eventhough the original wooden tower was burned to the ground in 1779 by the British Solders. The original foundation is marked with a granite plaque which reads “Foundation of the Original Beavertail Lighthouse Erected 1749. Third Lighthouse to be established in the Atlantic Coast.” A compass on to shows the true north direction.
Fog Horns
The building that sits below the lighthouse has been restore to look like it did in 1939 when it was used to warn mariners of the jagged rock coastline. Two large replica trumpet horns protrude out of the building toward the Atlantic Ocean which would give one blast every 30 seconds during fog conditions.
Flags
Three flags fly on the same flag pole next to the keeper’s house. The top flag is the United States flag.
The middle flag is the Rhode Island state flag that is white and consists of a gold anchor in the center which is a symbol for hope surrounded by thirteen gold stars representing the original Thirteen Colonies. The thirteen stars also is a symbol for Rhode Island being the 13th state to ratify the constitution. The blue ribbon below the anchor bears the state’s motto in gold: “Hope”.
The third flag is the United States Lighthouse Service pennant.
Keeper’s House
The keeper’s house was built in 1856 and is connected to the lighthouse tower. In 1898 an assistant keeper’s house, oil house, storage building and garage were added.
State Park
Beavertail State Park was established in 1980 and is popular for sightseeing, hiking, picnicking and saltwater fishing. The park area is 153 acres at the southern end of Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay. There are four designated overlooks that can be accessed from a vehicle but walking along the rocky shore has beautiful views of the New England coastline.
The Dust on My Shoes
The Beavertail Lighthouse is very unique looking from any other lighthouse that I have seen. All of the other lighthouses that I have seen are round and painted primarily white. The Beavertail Lighthouse is a square construction made out of stacked gray granite planks that are unpainted. The other unique feature at this lighthouse is the two large trumpet shaped fog horns protrude out of the building beside the lighthouse tower.
I also enjoyed that the lighthouse is part of Beavertail State Park. Many lighthouses are on a small plot of land with little to do other than see the lighthouse. The state park has trails to hike and there are beautiful views of the New England coastline while walking along the rocky shore. Admission to the state park and lighthouse is free.
Lighthouses are a symbol of New England and it is hard to visit New England without seeing a couple of lighthouses. I try to choose places that are noticeably different when I am faced with deciding between many comparable sites.
If you are looking for a unique lighthouse to visit on your trip to New England then I suggest going to Beavertail Lighthouse and then enjoy the trails and coastal views at Beavertail State Park.
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