New London Harbor Light is a lighthouse in
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the ...
on the west side of the
New London harbor
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decades ...
entrance. It is the nation's fifth oldest light station and the seventh oldest U.S. lighthouse. It is both the oldest and the tallest lighthouse in Connecticut and on Long Island Sound, with its tower reaching 90 feet.
The light is visible for 15 miles and consists of three seconds of white light every six seconds. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1990.
It is currently owned and maintained by the
New London Maritime Society
The New London Custom House is a historic custom house at 150 Bank Street in New London, Connecticut, built in 1833-35. It was designed by Robert Mills, one of the country's first formally trained architects. From 1839-40, the schooner ''La Amist ...
as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act program.
Location
New London Harbor Light is located at Lighthouse Point in southern New London, just east of Guthrie Beach off Pequot Avenue. In addition to the lighthouse, the station includes the keeper's house, a two-and-a-half-story brick residence. The property once also included a barn, an oil house, and an engine room; all of these structures have been removed.
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History
The original New London Harbor Lighthouse was built on the west side of the entrance to New London Harbor in 1760.Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens ( ; ; or ) is a type of composite compact lens developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) for use in lighthouses. It has been called "the invention that saved a million ships."
The design allows the c ...
replaced the original 11 lamps with reflectors. Illumination was converted to oil-vapor lamp in 1909 and to acetylene in 1912. The light was electrified in 1930. The present keeper's house was built in 1863, and was enlarged in 1900 to accommodate the families of married keepers.
Head keepers
* Nathaniel Shaw (1761 – at least 1771)
* Daniel Harris (at least 1775 – at least 1802)
* Griswold Harris (1811 – at least 1825)
* Jeremiah Harris (at least 1827 – 1831)
* S.J. Beckwith (1831 – 1832)
* John G. Munn (1832 – 1841)
* John Mason (1841 – 1844)
* Nathan Buddington (1844 – 1845)
* George K. Comstock (1845 – 1850)
* Thomas Fisk (1850)
* John Mason (1850 – 1853)
* Lyman Reed (1853 – 1859)
* Elijah Bolles (1859 – 1861)
* Philip M. Boss (1861 – 1869)
* Charles A. Bunnell (1869 – 1889)
* Henry A. Whaley (1889)
* Charles B. Field (1889 – 1910)
* Theodore De Shong (1910 – 1911)
* Joseph F. Woods (1911 – 1912)
Gallery
File:New London Harbor Lighthouse.png, New London Harbor Lighthouse
See also
* List of lighthouses in Connecticut
The U.S. state of Connecticut has fourteen active lighthouses in the state, two of which are maintained as private aids; six are standing but inactive. Another was destroyed after its deactivation. The earliest lighthouse in the state was erected ...
* List of lighthouses in the United States
This is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights. Michigan has the most lights of any state with over 150 past and present l ...
*
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Lighthouses completed in 1760
Lighthouses completed in 1801
Long Island Sound
Buildings and structures in New London, Connecticut
Tourist attractions in New London, Connecticut
Lighthouses in New London County, Connecticut
Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in New London County, Connecticut