Nayatt Point Lighthouse
Barrington, Rhode Island
Built in 1828
Location:
Eastern side entrance to the Providence River, on Nayatt Point, off Washington Road. Private residence.
Latitude: 41° 43' 30" N
Longitude: 71° 20' 23" W
Historic Stories:
Providence was a busy shipping port in the 1800s, and it became necessary to build a lighthouse to mark the narrow passage between Nayatt Point, and a shoal that was extending out across the river at Conimicut Point. The beacon at Nayatt Point would also help traffic along the Providence River.
When the Nayatt Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1828, the law at the time was to take the lowest bid, which resulted in an unqualified contractor to perform the work, causing the structure to soon fall apart. With so many problems it cost the government much more money than if they had done a little research on the original shady contractor.
| An 1855 storm damaged the light, and a replacement light was constructed in 1856. | 
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In 1866 the Lighthouse Board received a petition from local mariners and ship owners asking them to close Nayatt Point light and move its light to a stone beacon on the shoal off Conimicut Point. The Board agreed, and closed Nayatt Point, using the keepers quarters for the keepers at Conimicut light, due to Conimicut light's newly engineered construction of its caisson like "spark plug" architecture. Its keepers used the Nayatt Point keepers dwelling until 1883.
Note: There is a story of a keeper and his son rescued from ice floes at Conimicut Lighthouse and who lived at Nayatt Point Light. Select the link above to be directed my Lighthouse Stories blog.
Places to Visit:
Barrington is a quiet town near the entrance to Providence River. It lies near the East Bay Heritage Trail system which involves a 14-mile East Bay bike path from Bristol to Providence along the shores of Narragansett Bay where you can view Victorian era homes, antique shops, parks, and maritime history museums.
Nayatt Point lighthouse is located on the eastern side entrance to the Providence River, on Nayatt Point, off Washington Road.
| Although still it is best viewed by boat, you can get photos from a nearby tiny fishing beach, directions mentioned below. It is a private residence so stay on the shoreline a distance away. | 
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Explore Osamequin Nature Trails and Bird Sanctuary, with 38 acres of conservation area, with lots of nature trails and a bird sanctuary. For those who want a little recreation, or have teenagers, visit the Veteran's Memorial Park or Haines Memoral Park with softball fields and places for picnicking. Walker Farm has a boat launch onto the Barrington River and 30 acres of open land for boating and fishing.
Colt State Park in nearby Bristol also provides an open panorama of Narragansett Bay.
Directions
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Where Route 114 South makes a sharp turn in Barrington just past a shopping center, go right onto Rumstick Road.
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After a half-mile turn right onto Nayatt Road.
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Continue to Washington Rd where you’ll find a small paved road on the left which leads to the shoreline where you will see the lighthouse.
- Be wary as it is a private residence.
Local Boat Tours
Save the Bay Tours
Special organization for lighthouse and coastal preservation. In addition to various educational, nature, and historical tours, they provide an Ultimate Lighthouse Tour for seven hours that covers most of the lighthouses along the Narragansett Bay shoreline.
100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence, RI 02905
Phone: (401) 272-3540 x103
Books to Explore
Available also from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed globally by IngramSpark. |
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
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 you can explore, and tours. Look inside! |
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