Stonington Harbor Connecticut
Harbour Lights #481

Settled in the 17th Century, Stonington was a thriving port where fishing, whaling and shipbuilding were the mainstays of the local economy.

In 1822, the United States Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse at the southernmost tip of Stonington to meet the needs of a demanding port. In 1824, Benjamin Chase completed a 30’ cylindrical stone tower and stone Keeper’s dwelling. Seen for more than twelve miles, the original light was ten whale oil lamps set in thirteen-inch reflectors in an arc. The tower in tandem with the town’s highest steeple guided mariners entering the harbor.

Beach erosion caused the first Stonington Lighthouse to be short lived; by the late 1830’s the light was in danger of falling into the sea. The idea of a protective wall was dismissed as the measure would only have been temporary and the cost would have been as much as building a new tower.

Completed in 1840, builders using stones from the original tower built a new two and a half story Keeper’s dwelling with a 35’ octagonal tower centered in the front gable. Eight lamps with sixteen-inch reflectors produced the fixed white light.

A breakwater was constructed at the harbor’s entrance. A privately built light with fog signal at the southern end of the breakwater proved to be more effective as a navigational aid. In 1888, the Lighthouse Board made a request for an official light having acknowledged that the Stonington Lighthouse was no longer useful to mariners.

In 1889, a Fourth Order Fresnel lens with a fixed red light and fog signal from a new 25’ conical tower was lit. The Stonington Lighthouse was deactivated with the Keeper being reassigned to the breakwater light. In 1926, the breakwater light was replaced with a skeletal tower.

At public auction, the Stonington Historical Society was the only bidder for the old Lighthouse. The Stonington Historical Society restored the light opening it to the public as a museum. The Old Lighthouse museum is open seasonally to visitors.