Sakonnet Lighthouse - Rhode Island
Mailing Address:
Friends of Sakonnet Lighthouse, Inc.
P.O. Box 154
Little Compton, RI 02837
Sakonnet Lighthouse, established in 1884 off the coast of Little Compton, Rhode Island, is a historic offshore beacon known for its iconic sparkplug-style architecture and vital role in maritime navigation.

Prints & Downloads

Map

  • Clarence Otis Gray
    Appointed as acting keeper on October 6, 1884, and confirmed on October 10, 1884.
  • Thomas S. Fishburne
    Served as acting keeper starting April 2, 1891
  • Charles F. Fishburne
    Assumed acting keeper duties on March 8, 1894
  • Richard Curian
    Appointed on April 2, 1891
  • Nils Nelson
    Began service on October 1, 1903.
    Thomas Lawson
    Appointed on July 1, 1908.
  • W. B. Petty
    Started his tenure on August 1, 1910.
  • W. B. Manchester
    Appointed on September 21, 1910.

Location

Of the lighthouses in Rhode Island, this one is the most separated, but I was pleasantly surprised.  They don't allow visitors to go on the beach .... but you can see the lighthouse from the parking location.   I would recommend visiting during the week or during the off season.   Parking is super limited.

​​Google Maps HERE

History

Congress approved $20,000 in 1882 for a lighthouse on Little Cormorant Rock at the entrance to the Sakonnet River, 800 yards off Rhode Island’s Sakonnet Point. Construction began in early 1883. After a break at the end of the year due to harsh winter weather, work resumed the following spring, and the beacon was lighted on November 1, 1884.

​Surviving the Great Hurricane of 1938: William Durfee's AccountDuring the devastating hurricane of 1938, Keeper William H. Durfee recounted that by 5:00 PM, all outside doors had been carried away, and windows from the first to the third floor were smashed, flooding the interior. At 5:30 PM, while lighting the beacon, a tidal wave completely buried the tower, knocking Durfee off his feet. Despite the destruction, Durfee survived the storm.

In 1954, Hurricane Carol severely damaged Sakonnet Lighthouse. The estimated cost of tearing the structure down and rebuilding it was $100,000. The Coast Guard decided the repairs were too expensive, and the station was deactivated the following year. The Coast Guard planned to blow the tower up, but the citizens of Little Compton objected and fought for its preservation. Ownership of the light was transferred to Little Compton with the proviso that the station was maintained and left permanently unlighted.

Photography
The island is only accessible by boat or drone.   You can grab a photo with a longer lens .... 150mm to 500mm. 
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1/2 Mile Drone Flight