North Conanicut Island Lighthouse
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Built in 1886
Location:
North end of Conanicut Island. Private residence.
| Latitude: 41° 34' 25" N |
| Longitude: 71° 22' 18" W |
Historic Stories:
The Wickford Rail and Steamboat Company operated a ferry between Newport and Wickford, in Narragansett Bay, also operating a light beacon on the northern tip of Conanicut Island for the ferry captains’ livelihood. In 1882, the company became one of the forces behind a petition asking for an official lighthouse on the site, as the company would also benefit with the new light. Construction was approved and a site chosen in 1884, but was delayed because one of the land owners was still in Europe. Construction began in 1885.
While building the Conanicut North Island lighthouse, a temporary beacon was put up at that time during the winter of 1886. Still, it wasn't effective enough to keep the steamer Eolus from running aground on the rocks nearby during a blinding snowstorm. Luckily, nobody was injured in the incident.
 Vintage image courtesy of US Coast Guard |
The first keeper at North Conanicut Island light, Horace W. Arnold, was an eighth-generation descendant of Benedict Arnold. |
He was famous for an incident that occurred previously at another station, at nearby Conimicut lighthouse, one winter in 1875. As heavy ice floes were seriously threatening the lighthouse, Arnold decided, along with his son to abandon the station, where they threw a mattress on top of an ice flow to escape the danger. They were rescued by the tug Reliance, a few hours later. Both Keeper Arnold and his son were both hospitalized for frostbite. Some years after the ice flow incident; he applied for and received the appointment for the comfortable North Conanicut Island Light where he served for 13 years.
The lighthouse was sold at auction in 1934 for $2,874.
Places to Visit Nearby:
| Jamestown is located on Conanicut Island connected by bridges from the Newport area. |
Lobster Boat Leaving |
It is an area filled with history, 18th and 19th century architecture, and hosts many community events.
There are a host of parks with trails and small wildlife refuges for birding for visitors to relax and enjoy.
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Beavertail lighthouse is located in Beavertail State Park for picnicking and hiking. Be sure to also visit the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum. |
Other museums in the area include include Watson Farm, a living history museum that offers a glimpse into the way most people lived in Jamestown for three hundred years; the Jamestown Fire Department Memorial Museum collection of antique fire fighting equipment (across the street from the town fire dpepartment), and the Jamestown Museum collection of ferry system memorabilia, historic photos, maps, and other items that help tell the story of Jamestown's history. There are more than 40 museums located within 40 minutes of Jamestown.
Fort Wetherill State Park is situated on top of 100 foot high granite cliffs for a spectacular view of Narragansett Bay. Charter fishing is available at the Dutch Harbor Boat Yard.
Directions for a Distant View:
Best views of the lighthouse are from the water, as it is a private residence without access to visitors. To get a partial view the lighthouse from the street:
- Take Highway 138 to Conanicut Island, and then take Main Road to the northernmost end of the island.
- From Main Road, turn left on Summit Avenue and follow it to its end.
Local Boat Tours
North Conanicut lighthouse is best viewed by boat. Boat cruises mentioned below offer many types of cruises, including specific lighthouse cruises.
Rhode Island Fast Ferry
Offers weekly lighthouse tours in season. Their narrated high-speed ferry cruises cover ten Rhode Island lighthouses in Narragansett Bay.
1347 Roger Williams Way
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: (401) 295-4040
Email: info@fastferry.com
Save the Bay Tours
Organization for lighthouse and coastal preservation provides nature and seal watching tours. For those who are not in a hurry, they provide an extensive 7-hour Ultimate Lighthouse Tour covering most of the lighthouses in Narragansett Bay, including a stopover lunch to explore the grounds of Rose Isand Lighthouse.
100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence, RI 02905
Phone: (401) 272-3540 x103
My 300-page book, Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, provides special human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions nearby and various boat tours. Look inside! |
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