Beavertail State Park

Beavertail State Park is a protected area at the southern tip of Conanicut Island near Jamestown. The park consists of granite cliffs, rocky shores, and provides four observation points overlooking Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean coastline.

The lighthouse at this location was first built in 1749 and rebuilt twice before the current structure was completed in 1856. This makes it one of the oldest lighthouse sites on the North American coast.

The Fort Burnside Museum displays military artifacts and radio equipment that enthusiasts restore and study today. Visitors can see how people once communicated over long distances and monitored the coastline.

The park is good for saltwater fishing, hiking on coastal trails, and exploring tide pools at different times of the tide. The aquarium located on site offers marine education programs where visitors can observe sea organisms up close.

A former Army harbor control post was intentionally designed to look like a regular house to hide its military purpose. This disguised structure shows the security measures taken to protect the harbor during the Cold War.

Location: Newport County

Inception: 1980

Opening Hours: sunrise-sunset

Phone: +14014239941

Website: https://riparks.com/parks/beavertail.php

GPS coordinates: 41.44944,-71.39944

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40