Blackwell Island Light facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Blackwell Island Light

Blackwell island Light in 2017
Blackwell Island Light Location in New York City
Location	Roosevelt Island, New York, New York
Coordinates	40°46′22″N 73°56′24.6″W / 40.77278°N 73.940167°W / 40.77278; -73.940167
Year first constructed	1872
Year first lit	1872
Foundation	stone
Construction	stone
Tower shape	octagonal tower
Height	ca. 50 feet (15 m)
ARLHS number	USA-1041

The Blackwell Island Lighthouse, also known as the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse, is a historic stone lighthouse built in 1872. It stands at the northern tip of Roosevelt Island in the East River in New York City. This lighthouse is recognized as an important landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972 and a New York City Landmark since 1976.

History of the Lighthouse

The island where the lighthouse stands has had several names. It was first known as Blackwell Island. From 1921 to 1973, it was called Welfare Island. Today, it is known as Roosevelt Island. This island is located in the middle of the East River, which flows through the borough of Manhattan.

The city government bought the island in 1828. Over time, many important buildings were constructed there. These included a prison, a poorhouse, a city hospital, and a mental health facility called the New York Lunatic Asylum. There was also a hospital for smallpox patients.

In 1872, the City of New York decided to build a lighthouse. The main architect for this project was James Renwick, Jr.. He also designed other buildings on the island. Renwick is famous for designing St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

Many interesting stories are told about how the lighthouse was built. Two names, John McCarthy and Thomas Maxey, are often mentioned in these legends. One story says that a very hardworking patient from the mental health facility built a seawall. This wall helped create new land near the facility.

Other legends claim that an inmate from the asylum built a fort. He supposedly wanted to defend the island from a British invasion. Some versions of the story even say he used Civil War cannons. The legend suggests that he was given fake money to tear down his fort so the lighthouse could be built. Other stories simply say that an asylum patient built the lighthouse itself.

For many years, a special message was carved into a stone near the lighthouse. It read:

The City of New York operated this lighthouse, not the United States Lighthouse Board. In 1893, the Lighthouse Board generally praised how the Blackwell Island Lighthouse was run. However, they noted that they were sometimes unfairly criticized when the city failed to keep the light working. The lighthouse continued to operate until around 1940. It was partly restored in the 1970s, and the full restoration finished in 1998.

Lighthouse Design

The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse stands about 50 feet (15 m) tall. It is made from gray gneiss stone. This stone was dug out of the island itself by prisoners from the penitentiary. The lighthouse has an eight-sided base and an eight-sided tower.

The entrance is on the south side, under a pointed Gothic arch. Two narrow windows on the south side let light into the tower. At the top of the tower, there is a decorative band of supports called corbels. Above this is a walkway with an iron railing. The very top part, where the light shines, is also eight-sided and has a shallow cone-shaped roof.

Old photographs from 1893 and a movie from 1903 show that the lighthouse likely had a much taller, steeper cone-shaped roof when it was first built. The actual light equipment inside was provided by the U.S. Lighthouse Board.

Images for kids

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  Blackwell Island Light in 1970

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  Maintenance of the Blackwell Island Light, including temporary removal of the lighthouse cap and gallery railings, on October 25, 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Faro de Blackwell Island para niños