Point Judith Lighthouse
Located on the west side of the entrance to Narragansett Bay stands the local attraction of the Point Judith Lighthouse. In 1810 the first lighthouse was built on Point Judith, but was destroyed by a hurricane just five years later. A year later a new 35 foot stone lighthouse was built with a revolving light. The new lighthouse was cold and damp and the bedroom for the keeper was in the attic of the keeper’s house.
The area near Point Judith Lighthouse is a dangerous one for vessels traveling, and despite the lighthouse’s revolving light, wrecks continued to happen. In 1857 another new lighthouse was built on Point Judith. This one was 51 feet high and was made from brownstone and brick. This is the lighthouse that still stands today. Constructed in an octagonal shape, the structure was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens for the light. This lens also remains in place today at the Point Judith Lighthouse.
In 1867 a hot-air engine was installed to power the Daboll trumpet fog signal. A radio beacon was established at Point Judith in 1931, making it the first Rhode Island lighthouse to have such a beacon. The great hurricane of 1938 did little damage to the Point Judith Lighthouse, although 250 feet of the seawall was destroyed. Many changes took place on Point Judith over the 70 years.
Point Judith Lighthouse underwent major restoration in 2000 which should allow the lighthouse and buildings remain in excellent condition for years to come. Today the Point Judith Lighthouse remains an active Coast Guard station with the grounds being open during the day to the public.
The area near Point Judith Lighthouse is a dangerous one for vessels traveling, and despite the lighthouse’s revolving light, wrecks continued to happen. In 1857 another new lighthouse was built on Point Judith. This one was 51 feet high and was made from brownstone and brick. This is the lighthouse that still stands today. Constructed in an octagonal shape, the structure was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens for the light. This lens also remains in place today at the Point Judith Lighthouse.
In 1867 a hot-air engine was installed to power the Daboll trumpet fog signal. A radio beacon was established at Point Judith in 1931, making it the first Rhode Island lighthouse to have such a beacon. The great hurricane of 1938 did little damage to the Point Judith Lighthouse, although 250 feet of the seawall was destroyed. Many changes took place on Point Judith over the 70 years.
Point Judith Lighthouse underwent major restoration in 2000 which should allow the lighthouse and buildings remain in excellent condition for years to come. Today the Point Judith Lighthouse remains an active Coast Guard station with the grounds being open during the day to the public.
