New London Ledge Light, Historical lighthouse in Thames River, Connecticut
New London Ledge Light is a brick and granite lighthouse with a mansard roof rising 18 meters above the water surface. The foundation consists of a timber crib filled with concrete and gravel, built to resist strong currents and harsh weather.
The lighthouse was built in the early 1900s after Congress approved funding in 1904 for a navigation aid and fog signal near Black Ledge. Construction of this structure significantly improved maritime safety in this section of the Thames River.
The structure displays French architectural language with its distinctive mansard roof, which was uncommon on the American coast in the early 1900s. Passersby immediately recognize this European style standing amid the maritime landscape.
You can view the lighthouse from shore along New London's Pequot Avenue or observe it during ferry crossings to Fisher's Island and Block Island. The best vantage points are from certain spots along the shoreline or while taking a boat trip on the river.
The structure rests on a timber crib specifically designed to float and shift under extreme conditions. This flexible construction allowed the lighthouse to endure for decades in one of the most challenging maritime environments along the coast.
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