Rock Island Light facts for kids
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| Rock Island Light in 2015, after renovations | |
 Rock Island Light
Location in New York
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| Location | Rock Island Saint Lawrence River New York, USA |
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| Coordinates | 44°16′50″N 76°1′1″W / 44.28056°N 76.01694°W |
| Year first constructed | 1848 |
| Year first lit | 1882 |
| Deactivated | 1956 |
| Foundation | Concrete and limestone |
| Construction | Cast iron |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | White w/ black lantern |
| Height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Focal height | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Original lens | Sixth order Fresnel lens |
| ARLHS number | USA-697 |
The Rock Island Light is a cool old lighthouse located on Rock Island in the Saint Lawrence River. This river forms part of the border between the United States and Canada. The lighthouse is in Jefferson County, New York, USA.
The island and its lighthouse are now owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. They run it as the Rock Island Lighthouse State Park. This historic lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 1978. This means it's a special place worth protecting!
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
The Rock Island Light was first built in 1848. It was one of three lighthouses that the United States government approved to help boats navigate safely. These lights were especially important in the Thousand Islands area of the Saint Lawrence River. The other two lighthouses built at the same time were Crossover Island Light and Sunken Rock Light. Both of these are located east of Rock Island.
The first lighthouse was a brick house with the light on its roof. But in 1882, a new, separate iron tower was built for the light. This tower stood near the middle of the island. A new, two-story Victorian-style house for the lighthouse keeper was built in 1884.
Later, people realized that the new light was sometimes hard to see. The tall house and trees on the island were blocking it. In 1894, the tower's platform was raised by five feet (1.5 m) to make the light more visible. Finally, in 1903, the tower and light were moved. They were placed on a brick base built off the north side of the island. This is where the lighthouse stands today!
Other old buildings still on the island include a smokehouse (from around 1847), a carpenter's shop (1882), a generator house (1900), and a boathouse (1920).
The Pirate Lighthouse Keeper
One of the most interesting people who worked at the Rock Island Light was William Johnston. He was known as "The Pirate of the Thousand Islands"! During a time called the Patriot War, Johnston supported the American side. In May 1838, he and a small group took over a British mail ship called the Sir Robert Peel. Since they couldn't sail the ship, they set it on fire. The ship then drifted onto a small island in the Saint Lawrence River. This island is now known as Peel Island.
The U.S. government declared Johnston an outlaw. He was caught and tried several times. But eventually, he received a special pardon. After being pardoned, Johnston became the lighthouse keeper at Rock Island Light. He worked there from 1853 to 1861.
Lighthouse Restoration
The Rock Island Light stopped being used to guide boats in 1958. The island was put up for sale in 1968. Then, in 1971, it was given to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. In 1976, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation took control. That's when it officially opened as Rock Island Lighthouse State Park.
In 2007, the park received a big grant of $900,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The state also added $200,000. This money was used to restore the lighthouse and make it better for visitors. The plans included making the dock bigger, fixing up the lighthouse and the keeper's house, and creating a museum. They also added water, sewer, and electricity to the island.
The A.E. Vickery Shipwreck
The ship A.E. Vickery sank on August 17, 1889. It hit a shallow spot while sailing into the American Narrows. The ship was on its way to a distillery in Canada. Today, the sunken boat rests near Rock Island. It's a popular spot for underwater diving in the Thousand Islands area.
Rock Island Lighthouse State Park
| Rock Island Lighthouse State Park | |
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Rock Island, Saint Lawrence River |
| Nearest city | Clayton, New York |
| Area | 4 acres (0.016 km2) |
| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 6,941 (in 2014) |
| Website | Rock Island Lighthouse State Park |
Rock Island Lighthouse State Park is a four-acre (0.016 km2) state park. It covers the entire Rock Island and its old lighthouse station. The park was created in 1976 when New York State took over the property.
Visiting the Park
You can only get to the island by private boat or a boat tour. The closest public boat launch is at Grass Point State Park. This park is about a five-minute boat ride away. You can also find public boat tours from Clayton.
The park is open at certain times of the year. From Memorial Day until late June, it's open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From late June until Labor Day, it's open every day. After Labor Day until Columbus Day, it goes back to being open only on weekends.
When you visit, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse for amazing views of the area. There's also a museum inside the old keeper's quarters. You'll need to pay a small fee to enter the museum and climb the lighthouse.
