Block Island Southeast Light facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Block Island Southeast Light

The Block Island Southeast Light in May, 2015
Location	South East Light Road, New Shoreham, Rhode Island
Coordinates	41°9′12.3″N 71°33′7.7″W / 41.153417°N 71.552139°W / 41.153417; -71.552139
Year first constructed	1875
Year first lit	1875
Automated	1990
Deactivated	1990-1994
Foundation	Granite / Concrete / Brick
Construction	Red brick
Tower shape	Octagonal pyramidal tower attached to dwelling
Markings / pattern	Natural with black lantern
Height	52 feet (16 m)
Focal height	261 feet (80 m)
Original lens	1st order Fresnel lens
Range	20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi)
Characteristic	Fl Green 5 sec
Fog signal	Horn, 1 every 30 sec

The Block Island Southeast Light is a famous lighthouse found on the Mohegan Bluffs. This is at the southeastern tip of Block Island, Rhode Island. It was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1997. This means it's a very important historical building. It's known for being one of the most beautifully designed lighthouses built in the United States during the 1800s.

About the Lighthouse and Its Story

Even though money was set aside in 1856 to build this lighthouse, those funds were used for another lighthouse instead. The Block Island Southeast Light was finally built in 1874. Its lamp first shone on February 1, 1875.

Lighthouse Design and Structure

This lighthouse shows off a fancy style called Gothic Revival architecture. It's made from brick and looked very different from older lighthouses. Those older ones were usually built just for function, not for looks. The main tower stands about 67 feet (20 meters) tall. It has an eight-sided granite base and a brick outside. At the top, there's a metal walkway and open area around the light. A copper roof, shaped like a pyramid with 16 sides, sits on top. It also has a ball vent and a lightning rod. The original roof was made of cast iron but was replaced in 1994.

The Keeper's House

A building where the lighthouse keepers lived is connected to the tower. It's a two-and-a-half-story brick house. It has two smaller kitchen areas at the back. The roof is steep and has windows that stick out. There are porches on both sides of the connecting part. Each porch was for one of the two homes inside the building. The one on the southwest side still has its original fancy details. The north part of the house was for the main keeper. The south part was for their assistants. The only big changes to the homes were adding modern plumbing in 1938. They also fixed damage from storms. The roof was first covered with wood shingles. Later, it was covered with different materials, and now it has slate shingles.

The Lighthouse Lens and Its Evolution

The original light system was a special Fresnel lens. It was about 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall. It used four round wicks that burned lard (pig fat) oil. In the 1880s, kerosene replaced the lard oil. In 1929, the lens was changed to float on a pool of mercury. This allowed it to rotate. At first, a clockwork machine made it spin. Later, a small electric motor took over.

Moving the Lighthouse and Its Future

In 1990, the Coast Guard turned off the light. They put up a new steel tower nearby. Because the cliffs were wearing away, the entire 2,000-ton lighthouse was moved in 1993. It was shifted about 300 feet (91 meters) back from the edge of the cliffs. After the move, the Coast Guard decided not to use the rotating mercury lens anymore. Instead, they put in a different large lens. This lens had been taken out of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse in 1980.

Ownership of the lighthouse was given to the Southeast Lighthouse Foundation in 1992. This group works hard to protect and preserve the lighthouse. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1997. This was because it was important for helping ships navigate. It was also recognized for its beautiful and complex design. In 1997, it was one of only 12 lighthouses that still used a first-order Fresnel lens.

The Southeast Lighthouse Foundation, which takes care of the lighthouse, has been involved in discussions about offshore wind farms. The organization has shared concerns that these wind farms might affect the ocean view.

Visiting the Lighthouse Museum

The lighthouse has a small museum and a gift shop inside its base. During the summer, you can take guided tours to the very top of the tower. There is a fee for these tours. The money collected from tours helps pay for the lighthouse's restoration and upkeep.

Lighthouse Keepers and Assistants

See Also

• Block Island North Light
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Rhode Island
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Rhode Island

Images for kids

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  Southeast Light looking NW ca. 1890

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  Aerial view of Southeast Light Station by U.S. Coast Guard, Salem, 1962

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  Southeast Light ca. 1988

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  Block Island Southeast Light

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  Block Island South East Lighthouse during sunrise in Shoreham, Rhode Island, USA. Photography by - Barry Mullin