Whale Rock Light, Sparkplug lighthouse in Washington County, Rhode Island
The lighthouse featured a four-story cast-iron tower with a height of 73 feet, positioned at the entrance of Narragansett Bay's West Passage.
Built in 1882 to prevent shipwrecks, the lighthouse met its end during the 1938 hurricane, resulting in the death of keeper Walter Eberle.
The foundation cutting process required precise timing with low tides and calm seas, demonstrating the engineering capabilities of 19th-century lighthouse construction.
Modern vessels now rely on the Whale Rock Lighted Gong Buoy 3 for navigation, marking the location where the original lighthouse once stood.
A meteorite fell near the lighthouse on May 30, 1902, creating an explosion that keeper J. G. Mead reported as audible from two miles away.
Location: Washington County
Location: Rhode Island
Inception: 1882
Made from material: bedrock, cast iron
GPS coordinates: 41.44360,-71.42360
Latest update: April 1, 2025 15:53
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