Race Rock

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.