Whale Rock Light, Sparkplug lighthouse in Washington County, Rhode Island
Whale Rock Light was a cast-iron lighthouse with four stories standing at the entrance to West Passage in Narragansett Bay. The tower rose from the rocky foundation and guided ships through this busy waterway.
The lighthouse was built in 1882 to prevent shipwrecks at this treacherous location. It was destroyed during the 1938 hurricane, which claimed the life 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.
A navigation buoy now marks this location where the original lighthouse once stood. The site is best viewed from nearby shores or by boat, as the tower itself no longer exists.
A meteorite fell near the tower in 1902 and created an explosion loud enough for the keeper to hear from a distance. This rare event was recorded in local accounts of the time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
