National Register of Historic Places

Prudence Island Lighthouse

Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island
Listed
March 29, 1988
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
88000270

About this property

The Prudence Island Lighthouse, more commonly known locally as the Sandy Point Lighthouse, is located on Prudence Island, Rhode Island and is the oldest lighthouse tower in the state. Sandy Point is nicknamed Chibacoweda, meaning "little place separated by a passage", because the location is a little more than one mile offshore. The lighthouse was constructed in 1823 and originally sat on a dike off Goat Island farther south in the Bay, where the Newport Harbor Light stands today. In 1851, it was transported to Prudence Island where it remains. It is one of the few lighthouses in the United States to retain its original bird-cage lantern. The light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. the keeper's wife, Mrs. George T. Gustavus (née Mable Gertrude Norwood; 1888–1938), James George Lynch (1863–1938) and v, his wife, Ellen Lynch (née Ellen Wyatt; 1870–1938) – both of whom had sought refuge at the lighthouse residence. The lighthouse keeper, George Theodore Gustavus (1884–1976), was also swept into the sea, but was swept back ashore and survived. National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island

Location

Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island
41.60582, -71.30246

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Wreck Sites of H.M.S. Cerberus and H.M.S. Lark
Listed
1.1 mi
Farnham Farm
Early Republic
1.1 mi
Battle of Rhode Island Site
Listed
2.3 mi
Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse
Industrial
2.4 mi
Borden Farm
Industrial
3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Rhode Island (1778)
1778Revolutionary War
1.3 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – Black Regiment Action
1778Revolutionary War
1.5 mi
Raid on Prudence Island (1775)
1775Revolutionary War
1.9 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – American Withdrawal
1778Revolutionary War
2 mi
Battle of Rhode Island Aug 29 1778
1778Revolutionary War
3.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Prudence Island Lighthouse listed on the National Register?

Prudence Island Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 1988.

What type of historic resource is Prudence Island Lighthouse?

Prudence Island Lighthouse is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Prudence Island Lighthouse?

The period of significance for Prudence Island Lighthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Prudence Island Lighthouse?

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