RACE ROCK

Type:
Year Established:
1878
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1908
Race Rock NY 2005 Mike & Carol McKinney.jpg
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2005
Photo Credit:
Mike and Carol McKinney
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
ENTRANCE TO LONG ISLAND SOUND
Latitude:
41° 14.6'
Longitude:
72° 2.9'
City / Town:
FISHERS ISLAND
U.S. State:
New York
Location County:
SUFFOLK
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. RACE ROCK
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1878
Tower Construction Material:
GRANITE
Tower Foundation:
GRANITE/CONCRETE CAISSON/PIER
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
67
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
40
Tower Shape:
SQUARE/OCTAGONAL
Tower Daymark:
Gray with White Lantern
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1878
Keeper's Quarters Style:
GOTHIC REVIVAL (ATT)
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
GRANITE
Other Structures:
NONE

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
Yes
Current Optic:
DCB-24
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1878
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • Race Rock Lighthouse, in Long Island Sound, 8 miles from New London, Conn., was built under great difficulties. The builder was Captain Scott. His engineer was F. Hopkinson Smith, who later became famous as a writer of lighthouse stories.
  • 1838: Congress appropriated $3,000 for erecting a lighthouse at Race Rock but the money was never expended.
  • 1869: $90,000 was appropriated "for a lighthouse at or near Race Point, Fisher’s Island, Long Island Sound."
  • 1870: An additional appropriation of $10,000 was made, after the Board had estimated that $200,000 would be required to build the lighthouse.
  • 1871: $150,000 more was provided by Congress.
  • 1878: The total cost of the lighthouse was $278,716.33.
  • The ledge on which the lighthouse is built is under water and three-fourths mile from Race Point Reef. It has one large and several smaller spurs of rock rising above the general surface. The least depth at mean low water on the principal spur or Race Rock proper, is 3 feet. The greatest depth at mean low water, within the circle of 69 feet, is 13 feet.
  • The pier is surmounted by a granite dwelling one story and a half high. From the center of its front the granite light tower ascends. A landing-pier, 53 feet long and 25 feet wide, built of heavy masonry, gives access to the lighthouse. The whole structure is surrounded and protected by riprap. The tower, which is square at the base and octagonal at the top, carries a fourth-order alternating flash white and red electric light of 90,000 candlepower, being 67 feet above sea level and 45 feet above land, and visible 14 miles at sea.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017