Avery Point Light
Avery Point Light or Avery Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Groton, Connecticut, United States, on the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut. Although construction was completed in March 1943, the lighthouse was not lit until May 1944 due to concerns of possible enemy invasion. Its original light consisted of eight 200-watt bulbs that were later replaced by a flashing green light in 1960. It was deactivated on June 25, 1967, when the United States Coast Guard Training Station moved to Governors Island. It is officially listed as the last lighthouse built in the state; the only other claimant is the replica Mystic Seaport Light.
Post-renovations view in 2014 | |
| Location | Groton, US |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°18′54″N 72°03′50″W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1943 |
| Construction | concrete |
| Height | 55 ft (17 m) |
| Shape | octagonal tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | unpainted (tower), white (lantern), black (roof) |
| Power source | solar power |
| Operator | Avery Point Lighthouse Society |
| Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1944, 2006 |
| Deactivated | 1967–2006 (reactivated) |
| Focal height | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Lens | LED |
| Range | 3.5 nmi (6.5 km; 4.0 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl G 4s |
Avery Point Lighthouse | |
| Location | On Long Island Sound at 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°18′54.8″N 72°3′49″W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1943 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000866 |
| Added to NRHP | August 23, 2002 |
The lighthouse deteriorated until it was declared a hazard by the University of Connecticut in 1997. A restoration effort was launched in 1999 through the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) and in 2000 by a new local chapter, the Avery Point Lighthouse Society. The restoration of the lighthouse began in 2001 and was completed in 2006, requiring a replica lantern and extensive structural repairs and replacement of the crumbling of the blocks. Two bills for $150,000 and $100,000 were appropriated and used to complete the restoration. The relighting and re-dedication of the lighthouse was held on October 15, 2006. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.