Beavertail Lighthouse, Maritime navigation lighthouse in Jamestown, United States
Beavertail Lighthouse is a stone structure standing at the southern edge of Conanicut Island, where the water meets rocky shores. The site includes a keeper's house from 1856, another from 1898, plus storage buildings that together create a small maritime complex.
The first lighthouse beacon was built here in 1749 to guide ships through dangerous waters around Narragansett Bay. After destruction, the current stone tower was rebuilt in 1856 and served as an active aid to navigation well into the 20th century.
The lighthouse represents a connection between land and sea that locals and visitors experience today. Walking around the grounds, you see how this beacon shaped people's understanding of navigation and safety on the water.
The lighthouse sits within Beavertail State Park, which offers free parking and marked walking trails along the shoreline. The rocky terrain requires sturdy footwear, especially if you want to explore closer to the water's edge.
Visitors often miss that this beacon still operates today, flashing white signals every six seconds to warn approaching vessels. This hidden function shows how these structures remain active navigation aids despite their historical appearance.
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