Whale Rock Lighthouse

Year Built

1882

Cost

$35,000

Type

Conical

Height

73 feet

Location

Whale Rock, Washington County

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1882

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

N/A

Year Deactivated

Replaced With a Skeleton Tower: 1940

Color

White (tower), black (lantern)

Last Keeper - Date

Daniel A. Sullivan (1927 – 1938)

Description

Today all that remains of Whale Rock Lighthouse are the remnants of the foundation. Rhode Island Bay Cruises passes near the remains of this lighthouse.

Brief History

•  1881, An appropriation was made by Congress at its last session for the establishment of a light at this point.
•  1897, The old and worn-out Stevens fog-bell-striking machine was replaced by a No. 4 Gamewell machine.
•  On May 30, 1902 Keeper J. G. Mead saw a large meteorite fall into the water 300 yards south of the lighthouse. When it hit the water, it exploded.
•  On September 28, 1938, a type 9-38-W buoy was placed 300 yards east from Whale Rock.
•  The light was extinguished during World War II so it couldn't be used as an aid to navigation by German U-boats. The light was removed in the 1950's.