Bluff Point Light facts for kids
| Location | Valcour Island, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°37′22″N 73°25′52″W / 44.62282°N 73.43116°W |
| Year first constructed | 1874 |
| Year first lit | 1874 |
| Automated | 1930 |
| Deactivated | 1930-2004 |
| Foundation | Dressed Stone/Timber |
| Construction | Blue limestone / Wood |
| Tower shape | Octagonal on Square House |
| Markings / pattern | Red/White Tower on Square House |
| Height | 35 feet (11 m) |
| Focal height | 95 feet (29 m) |
| Original lens | Fifth Order Fresnel lens (original), 12 inches (300 mm) (current) |
| Range | 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing White 4s |
Bluff Point Light, also called the Valcour Island Light, is a historic lighthouse. It stands on Valcour Island in Lake Champlain. This lighthouse helped guide ships from 1874 until 1930. It was one of the last lighthouses on Lake Champlain to get its name. Today, it is part of Adirondack State Park. The Clinton County Historical Association runs it as a museum. They are part of the Adirondack Coast Cultural Alliance.
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About Bluff Point Light
The United States Congress approved money for Bluff Point Light in 1870. It cost $15,000 to build. The lighthouse has a base made of blue limestone. It stands more than 90 feet (27 meters) above the shore. For almost 60 years, this Victorian-style lighthouse guided ships. It used a special lens called a fifth-order Fresnel lens. This lens helped ships navigate the channel between Valcour Island and New York State.
Lighthouse Keepers
Many lighthouses had keepers who were Civil War veterans. Major William Herwerth was the lighthouse keeper for Bluff Point Light. He worked there from 1876 until he died in 1881. After his death, his wife Mary Herwerth took over. This was unusual for a woman at that time. Mary kept the lighthouse running until 1902.
Lighthouse History
In 1930, the lighthouse stopped working. A new steel tower with an automatic light was built nearby. This new light made the old lighthouse unnecessary. The Bluff Point Light remained dark for many years.
Relighting the Lighthouse
The lighthouse stayed unlit until 2002. In August 2002, the United States Coast Guard lit it again. It was officially put back into service in 2004.
A Summer Home and Museum
After the lighthouse was no longer needed, a doctor named Otto Raboff bought it. He was from Massachusetts. Doctor Raboff fixed up the lighthouse and used it as a summer home. His family enjoyed spending time there.
In the 1980s, the lighthouse became part of Adirondack State Park. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has owned it since 1986. They pay for all its upkeep. The Clinton County Historical Association has worked hard to restore the lighthouse. They want to keep it safe as a museum. In 1999, they received an award for their care of the lighthouse.
