Sakonnet Light, Historic lighthouse and National Register site in Newport County, Rhode Island.
Sakonnet Light is a lighthouse in Newport County, Rhode Island, featuring a white cast iron structure that rises about 20 meters above the water. The tower displays a conical design mounted on a cylindrical base near Little Compton.
Construction of the lighthouse started in 1884 with a Fourth Order Fresnel lens designed to guide vessels through Sakonnet River passage. The structure became a vital navigation marker for growing maritime traffic in the region.
The lighthouse represents maritime heritage along the Rhode Island coast and marks a time when beacon fires were essential for local fishing and commercial shipping. It stands as a reminder of how the region depended on safe passage through its waterways.
The structure can be viewed from nearby shorelines year-round, though direct access to the tower remains restricted to maintenance staff. The best viewing spots are found along the public beach areas around Little Compton.
Local residents saved the structure from demolition in the 1960s, leading to its purchase by the Haffenreffer family and subsequent restoration work. This community effort demonstrates how strongly people valued protecting the area's maritime history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
