Five Mile Point Light, Maritime lighthouse in New Haven Harbor, Connecticut
Five Mile Point Light is a lighthouse at the entrance of New Haven Harbor, constructed from East Haven brownstone with an octagonal tower design. The structure rises approximately 80 feet and remains a distinctive landmark along the harbor's edge.
The original wooden structure from 1805 was replaced in 1847 by the current stone tower to meet growing demands of harbor traffic. The lighthouse served as a vital navigation aid for vessels in Long Island Sound until it was deactivated in 1877.
The lighthouse and keeper's house represent enduring symbols of maritime heritage in this area, where visitors today encounter a place that speaks to the region's connection to the sea.
The lighthouse sits within Lighthouse Point Park, a recreational area featuring walking trails and harbor views across its expansive grounds. Visitors should prepare for a steep climb of granite steps if they wish to reach the top and take in the water views.
The name comes from its precise distance of roughly 5 miles from downtown New Haven, which once served sailors as a natural geographic reference point. This type of distance-based naming helped captains quickly orient themselves when navigating the harbor.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
