Sheffield Island Light, Maritime museum and lighthouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, US.
Sheffield Island Light is a lighthouse located at the southern tip of the Norwalk Islands that marks the western entrance to Norwalk River. The structure stands 44 feet tall and now operates as a museum where visitors can learn about the area's maritime past and see the keeper's quarters.
The US government purchased 4 acres of the island in 1826 from Gershom Smith, who became the first keeper of the light. This transaction began a period of continuous operation that made the site essential for safe navigation of the local waters.
The lighthouse embodies the maritime heritage that defined this coastal community and continues to be a gathering place for those interested in local history. Visitors experience how this structure shaped daily life and remains woven into the identity of the region.
The island is accessible only during the warmer months through a ferry service operated by the Norwalk Seaport Association. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes as nature trails wind across the grounds and around the lighthouse.
Early lighthouse keepers had to wade to nearby islands during low tide to milk their cows, which roamed freely across the shallow waters. This quirk of daily life reveals how truly isolated existence was on this small outpost.
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