{{for|the light in British Columbia|Race Rocks Light}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox lighthouse | image_name = File:2022 Race Rock Light crop.jpg | caption = (2022) | image_size = 250px | location = Entrance to Long Island sound | coordinates = {{coord|41|14|36.6|N|72|2|49.2|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | yearbuilt = 1878 | yearlit = 1879 | automated = 1978 | yeardeactivated = Active | foundation = Granite and concrete caisson and pier. | construction = Granite | shape = Square/octagonal | marking = Natural color with white lantern | height = {{convert|45|ft|m}} | focalheight = {{convert|67|ft}} | lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens | range = {{convert|16|nmi}} | characteristic = Flashing Red 10s | fogsignal = Fog Horn points southeast. HORN: 2 every 30s | module = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Race Rock Light Station | nearest_city = Fishers Island, New York | architect = Francis Hopkinson Smith | architecture = Gothic Revival | added = April 29, 2005<ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75325197 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York MPS Race Rock Light Station|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= Virginia L. Bartos|date= January 2005 | access-date=November 28, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref> | area = less than one acre | mpsub = Light Stations of the United States MPS | refnum = 05000347<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=05000347|2009a}}</ref> }} }} '''Race Rock Light''' is a lighthouse on Race Rock Reef, a dangerous set of rocks on Long Island Sound southwest of Fishers Island, New York and the site of many shipwrecks.<ref name=cgll>{{cite uscgll|1|2009|181}}</ref><ref name=cghist>{{cite uscghist|NY}}</ref><ref name="rowlett">{{cite rowlett|nydn|date=2010-04-08}}</ref> It is currently owned and maintained by the New London Maritime Society as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act program.<ref name="theday.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theday.com/local/20150806/new-london-maritime-society-takes-over-as-new-london-ledge-light-owner|title = New London Maritime Society takes over as New London Ledge Light owner}}</ref>
Race Rock Light was built 1871–78 and designed by Francis Hopkinson Smith (1838–1915). It is an excellent example of 19th-century engineering and design. The massive masonry foundations on the reef took seven years to complete, but the stone structure, the keeper's quarters, and the tower were built in only nine months once the foundation was secure. The lighthouse has a fourth-order Fresnel lens in a tower standing {{convert|67|ft|m|0}} above the waterline. The United States Coast Guard automated the light in 1978.<ref name=cghist/>
Race Rock Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
==History== Race Rock Lighthouse stands in Long Island Sound, {{convert|8|mi}} from New London, Connecticut, at the mouth of the Race where the waters of the Sound rush both ways with great velocity and force. By 1837, eight vessels had been lost in 8 years on Race Point reef.<ref name=friends>[https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=741 "Race Rock Lighthouse"] Lighthousefriends.com</ref>
In 1838, Congress appropriated $3,000 for a lighthouse at Race Rock but the money was never expended. In 1852, the Lighthouse Board reported: "Various efforts have been made, and numerous appropriations expended, in endeavoring to place an efficient and permanent mark on this point. Buoys cannot be kept on it, and spindles have hitherto only remained until the breaking up of the ice in the spring."<ref name=friends />
Construction of the riprap foundation began in April 1871. In all, 10,000 tons of granite were used in the foundation. The Board reported in 1872 that the building costs were so high that "no more than the landing and the enrockment of the foundation, and two courses of the pier" could be paid for. Congress appropriated a further $75,000 in 1873, and the lighthouse was completed at a total cost of $278,716.<ref name=friends />
The ledge on which the lighthouse is built is under water and {{frac|3|4}} mile from Race Point Reef. It was made approximately level with small broken stones and riprap. Upon this was placed a circular-stepped mass of concrete, {{convert|9|ft}} thick, built in four concentric layers. To form the layers of concrete, cylindrical bands of half-inch iron were used. The upper surface of the concrete is {{convert|8|in}} above mean low water and carries a conical pier that is {{convert|30|ft}} high, {{convert|57|ft}} in diameter at the base, and crowned by a projecting coping {{convert|55|ft}} in diameter. The pier is made of heavy masonry backed with concrete and contains cisterns and cellars.<ref name=friends />
The pier is surmounted by a 1{{frac|1|2}} story granite dwelling, and the granite light tower ascends from its front. The whole structure is surrounded and protected by riprap. The tower is square at the base and octagonal at the top; it carries a fourth-order alternating electric light, standing {{convert|67|ft}} above sea level and {{convert|45|ft}} above land, and visible {{convert|14|nmi}} at sea.<ref name=friends />
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 as '''Race Rock Light Station'''.<ref name="nris"/> In June 2011, the General Services Administration made the Race Rock Light available at no cost to public organizations willing to preserve them <ref>{{cite news|title=For sale: Waterfront property; cozy, great views, plenty of light, needs TLC|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/12/for-sale-waterfront-property-cozy-great-views-plenty-of-light-needs-tlc/?hpt=hp_t2|access-date=12 July 2011|newspaper=CNN|archive-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715183812/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/12/for-sale-waterfront-property-cozy-great-views-plenty-of-light-needs-tlc/?hpt=hp_t2|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Beatty|first=MaryAnne|title=GSA Making 12 Historic Lighthouses Available at No Cost to Public Organizations Willing to Preserve Them|url=http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/286133|work=GSA Website|publisher=US General Services Administration|access-date=12 July 2011|archive-date=22 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622054934/http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/286133|url-status=dead}}</ref> as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act program. The New London Maritime society took ownership of Race Rock and two other lighthouses that mark the approach to New London, Connecticut.<ref name="theday.com"/>
==See also== * List of lighthouses in the United States
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{commons category-inline|Race Rock Light}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}} {{Lighthouses of New York}}
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Category:Lighthouses completed in 1878 Category:Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Category:Long Island Sound Category:Lighthouses in Suffolk County, New York Category:National Register of Historic Places in Suffolk County, New York