Hog Island Shoal Light

Hog Island Shoal Light is a cast iron lighthouse standing in the waters off Hog Island near Mount Hope Bay. The structure rests on a cylindrical foundation and serves as a navigation marker for vessels in the area.

The lighthouse was built in 1900 to replace a lightship, marking the last light station officially established in Rhode Island. Its construction represented a shift in how coastal navigation was managed in the region.

The lighthouse earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 for its maritime significance in Rhode Island navigation.

The light can be viewed from the water, though the island itself is accessible from nearby shore areas. Visitors will get the best experience by approaching from a boat given the location in the bay.

The light operates with a fifth-order Fresnel lens that projects its beam across open water to distant vessels. This optical technology was standard equipment for coastal lights of that era.

Location: Newport County

Inception: 1886

Height: 18 m

GPS coordinates: 41.63235,-71.27326

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:42