Rose Island (Rhode Island)

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For other meanings see Rose Island.
The Rose Island Light is visible on the extreme left of the island in this aerial photo.
The Rose Island Light is visible on the extreme left of the island in this aerial photo.

Rose Island is an 18.5 acre (7.487 ha) island in Narragansett Bay off Newport, Rhode Island.

[edit] Visiting

The island is home to the Rose Island Light, which visitors may pay to stay at for a night or one week as keepers. The Island is only accessible by boat. The lighthouse, built in 1870, has been restored to its Victorian appearance. The light and island is run by the private, non-profit, Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation.

[edit] History

In 1798 the U.S. government began constructing Fort Hamilton on Rose Island and the U.S. Infantry was stationed there. The stone barracks from the fort still remain. The U.S. Navy used Rose Island to store explosives during World Wars I and II as part of the Navy Torpedo Station. The government stopped using the island after World War II (except for the Lighthouse) and declared it government surplus. The Government deactivated the light in 1970 after constructing the Newport Bridge. In 1984 a group of citizens started the Newport Lighthouse Foundation to preserve the light.

[edit] External links and references

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Narragansett Bay
Islands
Major rivers
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