Galloo Island Light facts for kids
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 Galloo Island Light
Location in New York
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| Location | Lake Ontario |
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| Coordinates | 43°53′18″N 76°26′42″W / 43.88833°N 76.44500°W |
| Year first constructed | 1820 |
| Year first lit | 1867 (current tower) |
| Automated | 1963 |
| Foundation | Dressed stone/timber |
| Construction | Gray limestone w/ brick lining |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | Natural |
| Height | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Focal height | 58 feet (18 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 7.5-inch (190 mm) |
| Range | 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing white, 6s |
| Fog signal | none |
| ARLHS number | USA-314 |
| USCG number | 7-2000 |
The Galloo Island Light is a historic lighthouse. It stands on the southwestern side of Galloo Island. This island is about six miles from the mainland of Jefferson County, New York. The lighthouse helps guide ships on Lake Ontario.
Most of Galloo Island, including the lighthouse, is privately owned. However, the Coast Guard can still access the lighthouse. This is because the light is important for guiding ships safely. The lighthouse shines a steady white light. This light can be seen up to 15 miles away. When it's foggy, a steam whistle blows for 10 seconds, then stays silent for 30 seconds. There isn't a harbor on the island. So, smaller boats are needed to reach the shore. Today, the lighthouse stands tall but empty, watching over the waves.
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Discovering Galloo Island
Galloo Island is where this important lighthouse stands. The island covers about 3.46 square miles. It is roughly 4.47 miles long and 1.49 miles wide. The total land area is about 2,217 acres.
The closest island to Galloo is Stony Island. It is about 2 and 3/8 miles to the west-northwest. Galloo Island is on the eastern side of Lake Ontario. It is located near the entrance to Sackets Harbor. The island is part of a group of islands and shallow areas. These guard the entrance to Sackets Harbor and the Saint Lawrence River. Today, the island is privately owned by Cara C. Dibnah.
A Look Back: History of the Lighthouse
The story of Galloo Island Light began a long time ago. On April 21, 1818, a special law was passed. This law gave a large part of Galloo Island to the United States government. The goal was to build a lighthouse there.
Congress set aside $12,500 for the project. The lighthouse was planned for the southwest end of the island. It would help ships avoid islands and shallow areas. These were common when traveling to the St. Lawrence River or Sackets Harbor.
The very first light on the island was lit in 1820. A man named David O. was paid $411 for 30 acres of land. This land was specifically for the lighthouse. Elisha Ely was in charge of building the tower and the keeper's house.
By February 15, 1823, Galloo Island became part of the town of Hounsfield. The main lighthouse structure was finally finished in 1867. After many requests from the lighthouse keepers, the light became automated in 1963. This meant it could run on its own without constant human help.
In 1983, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was recognized as the first lighthouse built on Lake Ontario. The lighthouse was later abandoned. In August 1999, a private company bought the island. Then, in September 2000, the lighthouse tower and keeper's house were sold at auction. Cara Dibnah now owns them privately.
Lighthouse Keepers
Lighthouse keepers were brave people who lived at the lighthouse. They made sure the light stayed lit and guided ships safely. Here are some of the keepers who worked at Galloo Island Light:
- Zenas Hastings (1820 – 1837)
- Goodale Lewis (1837 – 1839)
- John Pringle (1839 – 1849)
- Benjamin Henshaw (1849 – 1850)
- John Gill (1850 – 1851)
- Benjamin Henshaw (1851– 1853)
- Kendall Hursley (1853 – 1861)
- Theophilus Stevens (1861 – 1870)
- William W. Harris (1870 – 1871)
- Warren Fuller (1871 – 1876)
- Filander Lyman (1876)
- F. Byron Johnson (1876 – 1906)
- Robert C. Graves (1906 – 1933)
- Wylie E. Koepka (1933 – 1942)
- Harry L. Klein (1942 – 1946)
How the Lighthouse is Built
The Galloo Island Light is designed to be strong and useful. The lighthouse tower is round. It gets narrower from the bottom to the top, like a cone. From its base to the very top, the tower stands 60 feet tall. The light's beam shines from about 58 feet above the water.
The lighthouse is grey. Its base has very thick walls, about 4 inches thick. This helps the tower stand strong against powerful winds.
The Lantern and Whistle
The lantern room, where the light shines from, has 10 sides. It is about 6 feet and 10 inches across. The doors and floor of the lantern are made of strong cast iron.
The steam whistle used during fog is 10 inches wide. It is operated by a special machine. This machine was made by a local company. The whistle is about 20 inches tall. It is placed at the top of the lighthouse building.
Images for kids
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The Galloo Island Light standing tall.
