Connecticut - Connecticut Lighthouses

Connecticut lighthouses offer intimate view of New England seafaring life

The Sheffield Island Lighthouse in Norwalk may be one of the best places in New England to explore the living and working areas of a lighthouse and feel the world that the lighthouse keepers knew. Active from 1868 to 1902, the lighthouse is maintained by Norwalk Seaport Association volunteers. Visitors can take a ferry to the island, tour the 10-room lighthouse and keeper’s home, and walk the nature trail. Connecticut lighthouses also include Stonington Harbor Light, a lighthouse-turned-historical museum at the tip of the Stonington Borough, a dense village of old New England buildings and abundant flower gardens that is worth a visit all by itself. This lighthouse was once the beacon for vessels approaching from Long Island Sound. Now, as a museum, six rooms of exhibits depict the lives of Stonington's fishermen and farmers, merchants and shipbuilders, pottery makers, blacksmiths and many other trades. Visitors enjoy climbing the old iron steps of the tower for an exhilarating view in all directions.

Our thanks to the generous help of Jeremy D'Entremont. See more lighthouses at www.lighthouses.cc. Photos by Jeremy D'Entremont.

Fayerweather Island Light (Black Rock Harbor Light)
Bridgeport, CT  
Phone: 203-334-0293

Location: Fayerweather Island, Black Rock Harbor

Accessibility: The lighthouse grounds are accessible from a parking area at the end of Barnum Boulevard at Seaside Park in Bridgeport. There is a mildly strenuous walk across a breakwater to the lighthouse. The tower itself is not open to the public. The facility: Lighthouse built in 1823. For information, contact Fayerweather Island Restoration Fund, c/o Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06605

Great Captain Island Light
Greenwich, CT  

Location: Western Long Island Sound

Accessibility: The ferry to the island is open to Greenwich residents only. The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best seen by boat. The facility: Lighthouse built in 1868. Managed by the Town of Greenwich.

Greens Ledge Light
Norwalk, CT  

Location: Norwalk Islands, western Long Island Sound

Accessibility: Can be reached by boat only. The lighthouse is not open to the public. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1902. Light flashes red and white every 12 seconds; fog signal is two blasts every 20 seconds.

Pecks Ledge Light
Norwalk, CT  

Location: Norwalk Islands, Long Island Sound

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public. It is best seen by boat.
The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1906; flashes green every 2.5 seconds.

Penfield Reef Light
Near Fairfield, CT  

Location: Long Island Sound

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public. It can be seen distantly from the shore of Fairfield and Bridgeport, but is best seen by boat. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1874. Light flashes red every six seconds; fog signal is one blast every 15 seconds.

Sheffield Island Light
Norwalk, CT  
Phone: 203-838-9444

Location: Sheffield Islands, entrance to Norwalk Harbor

Accessibility: The lighthouse can be reached by ferry from Norwalk. The Norwalk Seaport Association’s covered ferry runs for tours of historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse from May through Labor Day and also conveys passengers for special events on the island. The 42-foot passenger vessel is certified and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. A tour of the lighthouse is included in the ferry trip. The facility: Lighthouse built in 1868. Maintained by Norwalk Seaport Association, 132 Water Street, South Norwalk, CT 06854

Stamford Harbor Light (Chatham Rock Light, Ledge Obstruction Light)
Stamford, CT  

Location: Stamford Harbor

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public. It can be seen distantly from points on shore; it is best seen by boat. The facility: Active private aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1882. Light flashes white every four seconds.

Stratford Point Light
Stratford, CT  

Location: Mouth of the Housatonic River, entrance to Stratford Harbor

Accessibility: The station is home to a Coast Guard family and is not open to the public. Best views are by boat. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1881. Light white flashes every 20 seconds.

Stratford Shoal Light (Middleground Light)
Near Bridgeport, CT  

Location: Western Long Island Sound, midway between Connecticut and Long Island.

Accessibility: This lighthouse is not open to the public and is best seen by boat.
The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1874-1877. Light flashes white every five seconds; fog signal is one blast every 15 seconds.

Tongue Point Light (Bridgeport Breakwater Light, Bug Light)
Bridgeport, CT  

Location: West side of Bridgeport Harbor entrance

Accessibility: The lighthouse is on the grounds of a power plant and cannot be visited, but it can be seen distantly from some points on shore. A close view is possible from the Bridgeport to Port Jefferson ferry. The lighthouse is not open to the public. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1895. Light flashes green every four seconds.

Avery Point Light
Shennecossett Road
Groton, CT  

Location: East side of Thames River, Pine Island Channel

Accessibility: The tower is on the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut and is easily accessible. The tower is not open to the public. Directions: From I-95, take Exit 87, Route 349, the Clarence B. Sharp Highway. Turn right at the second traffic light onto Rainville Avenue. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Benham Road. Continue straight on Benham Road for approximately 1.7 miles to the Avery Point Campus at the University of Connecticut. It's a short walk from the parking area to the lighthouse. The facility: Lighthouse built in 1944. Light flashes green every four seconds.

Lynde Point Light (Old Saybrook Inner Light)
Old Saybrook, CT  

Location: West side of the mouth of the Connecticut River

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public. It is best seen by boat.
The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1838. Light is fixed white.

Morgan Point Light
Noank, CT

Location: West side of the mouth of the Mystic River

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best viewed by boat.
The facility: Lighthouse built in 1868.

New London Harbor Light
New London, CT
Phone: 860-447-2501

Location: West side of the entrance to New London Harbor

Accessibility: The keeper's house is privately owned and the station is not open to the public. The best views are from the water. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Owned by New London Maritime Society, 150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320. Lighthouse built in 1801. Light flashes three seconds white alternating with three seconds darkness.

New London Ledge Light
Groton, CT
Phone: 860-445-9007

Location: Thames River, entrance to New London Harbor

Accessibility: The lighthouse is best seen by boat. Tours are available through Project Oceanology. At the Avery Point campus of the University of Connecticut. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Maintained by New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 855, New London, Connecticut. Lighthouse built in 1909. Light emits three white flashes and one red flash every 30 seconds; fog signal is two blasts every 20 seconds.

Saybrook Breakwater Light (Saybrook Outer Light)
Near Old Saybrook, CT  

Location: West side of the mouth of the Connecticut River

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best viewed by boat.
The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1886. Light flashes green every six seconds; fog signal is one blast every 30 seconds.

Stonington Harbor Light
7 Water Street
Stonington, CT  
Phone: 860-535-1440

Location: East side of Stonington Harbor

Accessibility: Lighthouse is now a museum. Open daily, May 1 – October 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The facility: Lighthouses built in 1840. Maintained by the Stonington Historical Society at PO Box 103, Stonington. Telephone is 860-535-1440.

Faulkner's Island Light
Guilford, CT  
Phone: 203-453-8400

Location: Long Island Sound

Accessibility: The island is a protected nesting area and is not open to the public most of the summer. There is usually an annual open house in September for those who can reach the island with their own boats. The facility: Lighthouse built in 1802. Faulkner's Island is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. The lighthouse is an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. The lighthouse and other buildings are maintained by Faulkner's Light Brigade, Guilford, Connecticut. Light flashes white every 10 seconds.

Five Mile Point Light (New Haven Harbor Light, Old New Haven Light)
Near New Haven, CT  
Phone: 203-946-8790

Location: New Haven Harbor, Long Island Sound

Accessibility: The lighthouse is part of New Haven's Lighthouse Point Park. The grounds are open year-round but the tower is not open on a regular basis. For more information, contact the Lighthouse Point Park rangers at (203) 946-8790. The facility: Lighthouse built in 1847. Information on lighthouse restoration project available from Ed Condon at 203-640-4940.

Southwest Ledge Light
New Haven, CT  

Location: Entrance to New Haven Harbor

Accessibility: The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best seen by boat. It can be seen distantly from Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven. The facility: Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Lighthouse built in 1877. Light flashes red every five seconds; fog signal is one blast every 15 seconds.