Stonington Harbor Light facts for kids

The Stonington Harbor Light is a cool old lighthouse in Stonington, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1840. This lighthouse is a great example of how these important buildings looked in the mid-1800s. It stopped guiding ships in 1889. Since 1925, it has been a museum for the Stonington Historical Society. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 because of its historical importance.

What is the Stonington Harbor Light?

The Stonington Harbor Light stands at the very end of Stonington Point. It helped ships find their way into Stonington Harbor. The lighthouse has two main parts: a tall tower and a house where the lighthouse keeper lived. Both parts are made from big, strong granite blocks. The keeper's house also has a wooden section attached.

Exploring the Lighthouse Tower

The tower is shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. It stands about 35 feet (10.7 meters) tall. At the very top, there's a round glass room called the lantern house. This is where the bright light used to shine out to sea. The keeper's house is about 30 feet (9.1 meters) square and has one and a half stories.

A Lighthouse with a Past: Its History

Before this lighthouse, there was another one built in 1823 on Windmill Point. It was also made of granite. But over time, the land around it started to wash away. Because of this, the first lighthouse had to be taken down. Its materials were then used to build the lighthouse we see today!

How the Light Shined

When the Stonington Harbor Light first opened, it used oil lamps to create its beam. Eight special curved mirrors, called parabolic reflectors, helped to make the light brighter. However, this technology was already a bit old-fashioned when the lighthouse was built. So, in 1856, it got an upgrade. A new, more powerful Fresnel lens was installed. This type of lens was much better at making a strong, focused beam of light.

From Light to Museum: A New Purpose

In the 1880s, a different lighthouse was built further out in the harbor. It was called the Stonington Breakwater Light. Because of this new light, the Stonington Harbor Light was no longer needed. It was officially turned off in 1889.

Visiting The Old Lighthouse Museum

Today, the old lighthouse has a new job! It is now home to the Stonington Historical Society. They use the building as The Old Lighthouse Museum. Inside, you can learn all about the area's long history, especially its connection to the sea. One of the coolest things you can see there is the original 1856 Fresnel lens that once lit up the harbor.

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Want to Learn More?

• List of lighthouses in Connecticut
• List of lighthouses in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut