Connecticut - Lynde Point Lighthouse

The Lynde Point Lighthouse is located on the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, CT. The first lighthouse here was a 35-foot octagonal wooden tower built in 1803. Due to decay, the tower was replaced in 1839 by this 65-foot octagonal brownstone tower. The walls are five feet thick at the base. Although it was later painted white, the original red from the stone was visible in some places due to paint peeling. You will notice there are no windows showing on this side of the tower. All windows were built on the side of the tower facing the water. In 1852, a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed to replace the ten lamps previously used to provide light. In 1890 the fourth-order lens was replaced by a fifth-order lens, and then in 1975 it was automated. Although the light was automated, the lighthouse was still manned to prevent vandalism. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active lighthouse still providing aid to navigation.

Connecticut - Mystic Seaport Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located on the museum grounds at Mystic Seaport, CT. The lighthouse was built in 1966 and is a full scale replica of the 1901 Brant Point Lighthouse. It is the lowest lighthouse in New England as its light is only 26 feet above sea level. The lantern room contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens and the lighthouse is a private aid to navigation. As you can see, my photo only shows the lantern room and light of the lighthouse. I was unable to get closer in 2001 at the time of my visit there.

Connecticut - Avery Point Lighthouse

The Avery Point Lighthouse is located on the east side of the Thomas River, on the grounds of the University of Connecticut Avery Point Campus, Groton, CT. It was built in 1944 as a memorial to all the other lighthouses and light keepers. It stands 55-feet high and was the last lighthouse to be built in CT. This lighthouse only operated from 1944 to 1967 when it was deactivated. I visited this lighthouse in 2001 and, although easily assessable, the tower was not open to the public.

Connecticut - New London Harbor Lighthouse

The New London Harbor Lighthouse is located on the west side entrance to Thomas River at New London, CT. The first tower built here in 1761 had a height of 64-feet. Years later, large cracks developed and the lighthouse was replaced in 1801. This one is 89-feet high with a cast-iron lantern room. In 1857 the original lamps were replaced by a fourth order Fresnel lens. It was still functioning as an active light at the time of my visit here in 2001. This is also the oldest existing lighthouse in CT. Although the lighthouse appears to be connected to the building on the beach in the foreground, it is not connected.

New York - Race Rock Lighthouse

First of all, allow me to admit an error I made when cataloging the lighthouses that I've seen. The above Race Rock Lighthouse was built in 1879 and is located .6 miles SW of Race Point, Fishers Island, Long Island Sound, NY. This is a New York Lighthouse, not Connecticut. I photographed this lighthouse from Ocean Beach Park, New London, CT using a 500mm lens and 2X doubler. I mistakenly logged it as a CT lighthouse. At of the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active lighthouse.

New York - North Dumpling Lighthouse

As in the above post, allow me to admit a cataloging error of the above lighthouse. The North Dumpling Lighthouse is also a New York Lighthouse. The first one here was built in 1849 then replaced in 1871. It is located on the SW side of North Dumpling Island, Fishers Island Sound, New York. I photographed this lighthouse from Ocean Beach Park, New London, Connecticut using a 500mm lens with 2X doubler. At the time of my visit in 2001, this was an inactive light.

Connecticut - New London Ledge Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located between New London and Groton, CT where the Thames River meets the waters of Fishers Island Sound. Rather than building the spark-plug lighthouse design typical of the early 1900's, Ledge Light turned into more of a mansion on the water. Styled in French 2nd Empire, this ornate structure built in 1909 features five floors, eleven rooms, and a mansard roof with corners facing the four cardinal compass points. Standing sentinel, the lighthouse guided early century tall ships and modern submarines between the shores of New London and Groton. Ledge Lighthouse was the last manned light in Long Island Sound until its automation in 1989.

At the time of my visit here in 2001, tours to the lighthouse ran from mid-Jun to Labor Day, each with a duration of 2 1/2 hours. As part of the tour, you could hear of Ernie the Ghost. His wife, as the story goes, ran away with a tugboat captain, leaving Ernie so distraught that he stuck himself with a knife and jumped off the top of the lighthouse. Legend has it, Ernie's been ambling around for quite some time and his domain is the New London Ledge Lighthouse.

This lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is like no other lighthouse.