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Managing Organization:
New London Maritime Society
Telephone:
860-447-2501
Website: http://www.nlmaritimesociety.org
Email: nl.maritime.society@snet.net
Contact Address Information:
150 Bank St.
New London
Connecticut,
06320,
Notes:
The station was the first on Long Island Sound (1761), and the present tower is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Connecticut. The keeper's house has been a private residence since 1912. In April 2005, the New London Maritime Society was chosen as the new owner of the lighthouse under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Tower Height: 89 Height of Focal Plane: 90 Characteristic and Range: Six seconds white alternating with six seconds darkness, with red sector. Description of Tower: White octagonal brownstone tower with brick lining, black cast iron lantern.
This light is operational
Other Buildings?
1863 2.5 story brick keeper's house (enlarged in 1900). Earlier Towers?
1761: 64-foot stone tower. Date Established: 1761 Date Present Tower Built: 1801 Date Automated: 1912 Optics: c. 1838: 11 lamps and 13-inch reflectors. 1857: Fourth order Fresnel lens. Fog Signal: 1863: Fog whistle; 1874: Second class Daboll fog trumpet; 1883: First class fog trumpet; 1896: Improved fog signal with oil engines and air compressors; 1904: Fog siren. In 1911 the fog signal was relocated to New London Ledge Light. Current Use: Active aid to navigation, private residence. Open To Public? No. Museum?
There is no public access to the light station, but there is a museum at the Coast Guard Academy in New London. The collection includes lighthouse artifacts, most prominently a first order Fresnel lens from Thacher Island, Massachusetts. To get to the Academy, take exit 82A off I-95 north to Briggs Street (exit 83 to Briggs St. if southbound). Follow Briggs St. north to Monhegan Ave., turn right and follow to the main gate of the Academy. The museum and library are in Waesche Hall. For more information call (860) 444-8511. Directions:
From I-95 North: Take exit 82A to Colman Street and turn right (exit 82B if southbound). Then turn left at Bank Street, then right at Shaw Street into connecting Pequot Avenue. The lighthouse is just south of Montauk Avenue on Pequot Avenue. You can see the lighthouse from the sidewalk; do not enter the station as it is private property. The lighthouse can be clearly seen from the Fishers Island, Block Island, Montauk Point and Orient Point ferries leaving New London. It can also be viewed from the excellent lighthouse cruises offered by Capt. John's Sport Fishing Center in Waterford; call (860) 443-7259. Mapquest URL: Click here to get a map to this lighthouse! Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places Keepers: Nathaniel Shaw (c. 1761- at least 1771); Griswold Harris (1814-at least 1816), John G. Munn (c. 1837); John Mason (1841-1844); Nathan Buddington (1844-1845); ? Comstock (?) (1845-1850); John Mason (1850-1853); Lyman Reed (1853-1859), Elijah Bolles (1859-1868); Philip M. Ross (1868-1869); Charles A. Bunnell (1869-1889); Charles A. Bunnell, Jr. (assistant 1872-1890); Henry A. Whaley (1889); Charles B. Field (1889-c.1908); Christopher Culver, Jr. (assistant, c.1890-1892?); James A. Hobron (c. 1892-?); George L. Potter (assistant 1890-1895); Joseph D. Burke (assistant 1895-1899), Elmer J. Rathbun (assistant 1899-?)
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