Block Island Southeast Light facts for kids
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| The Block Island Southeast Light in May, 2015 | |
| Location | South East Light Road, New Shoreham, Rhode Island |
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| Coordinates | 41°9′12.3″N 71°33′7.7″W / 41.153417°N 71.552139°W |
| 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 spot is on 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 place. It's known for being one of the most beautifully designed lighthouses built in the United States during the 1800s.
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Building the Block Island Light
Even though money was set aside in 1856 to build this light, it was used for another lighthouse instead. That other lighthouse had been washed away in a storm. The Block Island Southeast Light was finally built in 1874. Its lamp first shone on February 1, 1875.
This lighthouse shows off a fancy style called Gothic Revival. It was built using red brick. This design was very different from older lighthouses. Most old lighthouses looked much more plain and simple.
The main tower stands about 67 feet (20 m) tall. It has an eight-sided base made of granite. The outside is made of brick. At the top, there's a metal walkway and an open area around the lamp. A copper roof with 16 sides sits on top. It also has a ball for air and a lightning rod. The original roof was made of metal. It was replaced in 1994.
The house where the lighthouse keepers lived is connected to the tower. A short hallway joins the two buildings. The keeper's house is a two-and-a-half-story brick building. It has two kitchen areas at the back. The roof is steep and has windows built into it. There are porches on both sides of the connecting hallway. Each porch was for one of the two families living there. The porch on the southwest side still has its original fancy decorations. The north side of the house was for the main keeper. The south side was for his helpers.
How the Light Worked
The first light inside was a special Fresnel lens. This lens was about 12 feet (3.7 m) tall. It had four round wicks that burned lard, which is pig fat. In the 1880s, kerosene replaced the lard oil.
In 1929, the lens was changed. It was made to spin while floating on a pool of mercury. At first, a clockwork machine made it turn. Later, a small electric motor took over.
Moving the Lighthouse
In 1990, the Coast Guard stopped using the light. They put up a new steel tower nearby. The cliffs where the lighthouse stood were slowly wearing away. Because of this, in 1993, the entire lighthouse building was moved. This huge structure, weighing 2,000 tons, was moved about 300 feet (91 m) away from the edge of the cliffs.
After the move, the Coast Guard decided not to use the old spinning mercury lens. Instead, they put in a different large lens. This lens had been taken out of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse in 1980. In 1992, the Southeast Lighthouse Foundation took over ownership. This group works to keep the lighthouse safe and preserved.
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 very 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 manages the lighthouse. They have shared concerns about how offshore wind farms might affect the ocean view from the lighthouse.
Visit the Museum
The lighthouse has a small museum and a gift shop. These are located at the bottom of the tower. You can visit the tower during the summer. Guided tours are offered to the very top. In September 2015, the fee for a tour was $10. The money from these tours helps to restore and take care of the lighthouse.
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
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