Race Rock Lighthouse

Year Built

1879

Cost

$278,716.33

Type

Square/octagonal

Height

45 feet

Location

Entrance to Long Island sound

Automated Year

1978

First Lit

1879

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

Fog Horn points southeast. Horn 2 every 30s

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

Natural color with white lantern

Last Keeper - Date

John A. Wilk (1970)

Description

The lighthouse is not open to the public.

Brief History

•  Construction of the foundation for Race Rock Lighthouse began in April 1871 after Congress provided an additional $150,000 that March.
•  Although it had taken seven years to finish the foundation and pier, it took just the working season of 1878 to complete the lighthouse so it could be activated on January 1, 1879.
•  The fog signal was changed to a third-class Daboll trumpet in 1905, and then to a first-class air siren in 1917.
•  In June 2011, the General Services Administration made the Race Rock Light available at no cost to public organizations willing to preserve them.
•  June 27, 2013, a deed transfer ceremony was held at the Custom House Maritime Museum to officially turn the lighthouse over to the New London Maritime Society.