Avery Point Lighthouse

Year Built

1944

Cost

$250,000 for restoration

Type

Octagonal tower with balcony and lantern

Height

55 feet

Location

Groton

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1944, 2006

Lens Type

Solar powered LED

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1967–2006 (reactivated)

Color

Unpainted (tower), white (lantern), black (roof)

Last Keeper - Date

Never had a resident keeper.

Description

Restored and is not open to the public.

Brief History

•  Avery Point Lighthouse was the last to be built in Connecticut.
•  It was finished in 1943, during World War II, but was not activated until May 2, 1944 due to concerns about possible enemy invasions by sea.
•  Decommissioned on 25 June 1967 when the Coast Guard moved its training facility to Governor's Island.
•  In 1969, the land was returned to the State of Connecticut at no cost, and it became part of the University of Connecticut at Avery Point campus.
•  After six years of work and the expenditure of $500,000, a ceremony to relight the restored Avery Point Lighthouse was held on October 15th, 2006.