Block Island Southeast Light
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| Block Island South East Light | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | South East Light Road, New Shoreham, Rhode Island |
| Built/Founded: | 1874 |
| Architect: | US Light House Board; Tynan, T.H. |
| Architectural style(s): | Gothic |
| Designated as NHL: | September 24, 1997[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | September 25, 1997[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 97001264 90001131[2] |
| Governing body: | Private |
Block Island Southeast Light is a lighthouse located on the southeastern shore of Block Island, Rhode Island. The lighthouse signals sea traffic coming from the Atlantic Ocean into the waters of Block Island and Long Island Sound, and remains an active navigational aid to sea vessels.[3] It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1997.[1][4]
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[edit] Construction
Construction on the lighthouse began in 1874, after Congress and President Ulysses S. Grant approved $75,000 in funding for the project 2 years prior. Construction was completed in 1875 by T.H. Tynan of Staten Island.[4] The original station was built in the Victorian Gothic style with a 67 feet (20 m) tall octagonal light tower. Connected to the tower is a 2- 1/2 story keepers residence.
[edit] Lens
The station includes a first-order Fresnel lens that has a focal plane[4] 52.5 feet (16 m) above ground (204 feet (62 m) above sea level). The tower originally contained a white light until 1929, when it was replaced with a green light with a range of 22 miles (35 km). This light was 12 feet (4 m) high by 6 feet (2 m) wide and stayed in service until 1990, when it was replaced by the United States Coast Guard over environmental concerns stemming from its use of mercury. In 1994 the Coast Guard agreed to relight the lighthouse and relocated the lens in the Cape Lookout Lighthouse in North Carolina to the Southeast Lighthouse. The lens is flashed every five seconds.
[edit] Bluff Erosion
The Mohegan Bluffs have suffered continuous erosion, and the edge of the cliff gradually approached the established site of Block Island Southeast Light. The lighthouse was originally placed 300 feet (91 m) from the edge of the Mohegan Bluffs, but in 1993 was moved back 360 feet (110 m), which had eroded roughly 250 feet (76 m)[4].
[edit] Museum
The lighthouse has a museum displaying the original Fresnel lens.[5] The museum is open during the summer season[6], provides tours of the light tower, and has a small gift shop.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Block Island South East Light. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
- ^ a b National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ What To Do - Lighthouses - Block Island Tourism Council; Block Island Tourism Council; retrieved on October 22, 2007
- ^ a b c d Andrea E. Reynolds. Block Island South East Lighthouse National Historic Landmark Study. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
- ^ Rhode Island Light Stations; United States Coast Guard; retrieved on October 22, 2007
- ^ Daytripper's Guide: Block Island; University of Rhode Island Sea Grant; retrieved on October 22, 2007
[edit] External links
- Block Island Southeast Light, Spring Street & Mohegan Trail at Mohegan Bluffs, New Shoreham, Washington County, RI: 53 photos, 12 drawings, 55 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey
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