Beavertail Lighthouse

State: Rhode Island. Type: historic lighthouse and museum within Beavertail State Park, on the southern tip of Conanicut Island, Jamestown. Current granite tower built in 1856, standing about 64 feet tall; an earlier 1749 wooden tower was the third lighthouse built in the American colonies. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1977. Museum operated by the nonprofit Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association, established in 1993.

Beavertail Lighthouse marks the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Jamestown, Rhode Island, at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, and is among the most historically significant lighthouse sites in the country. A watch house on the site dates to at least 1705, and a wooden lighthouse tower built in 1749 was the third lighthouse established in the Thirteen Colonies, though British forces burned it during their 1779 retreat from Newport in the Revolutionary War. The granite tower standing today was built in 1856 and originally carried a third-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse and its grounds sit within Beavertail State Park, a rocky, wind-swept point popular for its dramatic ocean views, fishing, and tide pools. The former assistant keeper's house now serves as a small museum run by the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association, which reopened the site to the public in 1989 and formalized as a nonprofit in 1993, preserving artifacts and stories related to the lighthouse and Rhode Island's broader lighthouse history.

Beavertail Lighthouse sits at the southernmost point of Conanicut Island in the town of Jamestown, Rhode Island, within Beavertail State Park, at the mouth of Narragansett Bay where it meets Rhode Island Sound.

Because the site sits on an exposed, rocky point at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, it is notably windier than more sheltered parts of Rhode Island in any season, with cooler-feeling temperatures near the water even on warm days. Winters bring cold, often gusty conditions, while summer offers milder, breezy weather that makes the point popular for walking and picnicking; visitors should dress for wind regardless of season.

Because the lighthouse museum operates seasonally, visiting between late spring and early fall is generally necessary to see the museum's interior exhibits, while the surrounding state park and lighthouse exterior can be visited year-round. Sunset is a particularly popular time to visit given the point's unobstructed westward and southward ocean views.

A watch house is recorded on the point as early as 1705, with beacon references from 1712, reflecting the site's long use for maritime navigation at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. A wooden lighthouse tower was constructed in 1749, making it the third lighthouse established in the Thirteen Colonies, but retreating British forces burned it in 1779 during the Revolutionary War. The current granite lighthouse was built in 1856, standing about 64 feet tall and originally fitted with a third-order Fresnel lens. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1977. The lighthouse grounds reopened to public visitation in 1989 following restoration work, and the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association was formally established in 1993 to operate a museum in the former assistant keeper's house, where the Fresnel lens and other artifacts are displayed.

Visitors walk the rocky point around the lighthouse for ocean views, explore the museum in the former assistant keeper's house to see the Fresnel lens and exhibits on Rhode Island lighthouse history, and fish from the rocks, a popular activity at the point. Beavertail State Park's grounds also lend themselves to picnicking and tide-pool exploring along the shoreline. Photography of the lighthouse, particularly at sunset, is a major draw.

The 1856 granite lighthouse tower and the former assistant keeper's house, now the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum, are the core sites. Beavertail State Park's rocky shoreline and walking paths surround the lighthouse and offer additional scenic viewpoints along the point.

Beavertail Lighthouse is reached by car via Jamestown on Conanicut Island, connected to the mainland by the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge from North Kingstown and the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge from Newport. There is no rail or regular transit service directly to the point, so a car is the practical way to visit; the drive from Providence takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and route.

The state park grounds are generally open during standard daylight park hours; the lighthouse museum in the assistant keeper's house operates seasonally, with specific hours published by the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association at beavertaillight.org. Confirm current-season museum hours before visiting, since they are not year-round.

Per recent research, the state park itself has free admission and parking, and entry to the lighthouse museum is free as well, though donations are appreciated; a fee of about $5 has been reported for visitors wanting to climb the tower. Confirm current fees directly with the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association before visiting.

A visit typically takes 45 minutes to a couple of hours, enough time to tour the museum, walk the point, and take in the views; anglers or photographers may plan to stay longer.

Jamestown itself has a small selection of inns and bed-and-breakfast-style lodging, reflecting its size as a small island town, while Newport, a short drive across the Pell Bridge, offers a much wider range of hotels, inns and resorts for visitors wanting more lodging options.

Jamestown's small village center has a handful of casual restaurants and cafes, while Newport, just across the bridge, offers a considerably larger and more varied dining scene for visitors extending their day.

The rest of Beavertail State Park, including additional shoreline walking paths, surrounds the lighthouse itself. Jamestown's village center and Conanicut Island's other scenic points are a short drive away. Newport, with its mansions and harbor, is readily reached across the Pell Bridge for a fuller day trip.

T.F. Green International Airport, north of Providence, is the nearest major airport, generally requiring about an hour's drive to reach Jamestown. There is no direct rail or regular bus service to the point itself, so a car or rideshare is necessary.

The rocky shoreline around the lighthouse can be slippery, especially near the water, and waves can be unpredictable during storms or high surf, so stay back from the water's edge in rough conditions. The point is very exposed to wind, so dress accordingly. For any emergency, dial 911.

A windbreaker or warm layer is worth packing regardless of season, given the point's exposure to wind and sea spray. Sturdy shoes help on the uneven rocky terrain around the lighthouse, and a camera is popular for the scenic views, especially at sunset.

Checking the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association's website for current seasonal museum hours before visiting avoids arriving when the interior is closed, since only the park grounds and lighthouse exterior are accessible year-round. Visiting near sunset is popular for photography, but plan the drive back across the bridges with that timing in mind. Combining a stop here with a visit to Jamestown's village or a day trip to Newport across the Pell Bridge is a common way to build out a South County/Newport County itinerary.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association can be reached at (401) 423-3270 or info@beavertaillight.org for museum-specific questions.

Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association - https://www.beavertaillight.org ; Rhode Island State Parks (Beavertail State Park) - https://riparks.ri.gov/parks/beavertail-state-park

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.