Notes:
(1) Conimicut Shoal Light was built to improve marking the narrow passage between the shoal off Conimicut Point and Nayatt Point.  The Lighthouse replaced Nayatt Point Light on Nov 1, 1868.

      In 1858, a wooden Daymark was built at the end of the hazardous sandbar on the west side of the entrance to the Providence River because Nayatt Point Lighthouse was ineffective in marking the dangerous shoal protruding out from Conimicut Point into middle of Providence River's mouth. A spar buoy replaced the Daymark that was destroyed by ice in 1860.

      Later, a granite Light-tower was built and First Lit on November 1, 1868 to replace Nayatt Point Light.  Light-keepers lived at Nayatt Point and rowed the dangerous one-mile to tend the light.

      In 1874, a five-room Keeper’s house was constructed on the pier of the Lighthouse.  Keeper Horace Arnold and his son barely escaped a ice floe that destroyed the Keeper’s house in March, 1875.  The Light-keepers moved back to and lived at the the decommissioned Nayatt Point Lighthouse until 1883.

      In 1882, the old Granite Lighthouse was razed and a new 58-feet high White Conical Cast Iron Sparkplug-style Lighthouse was built with integral Keeper’s Quarters.  The new Lighthouse exhibited a Fixed White light visible for 15 miles illuminated by a Fourth-order Fresnel lens.


      In 1960, the Conimicut Shoal Light was one of the last Lighthouses to be converted from kerosene to electric power.  The original Fourth-order Fresnel lens was replaced by a modern 250mm optic and automated in 1963.

      On September 28, 2002, Conimicut Shoal Light became available for transfer of ownership under The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program.  Joseph Solomon, City Council President of Warwick, pioneered the complicated acquisition process.  The City of Warwick acquired ownership of the Lighthouse at no cost on September 30, 2004 from the federal government under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

      On February 15, 2005, the Conimicut Lighthouse Foundation was established for the restoration, operation and promotion of Conimicut Shoal Lighthouse and the City of Warwick envisions the historic “Sparkplug-style” Lighthouse as a educational resource and a tourist destination with a boat service to the Lighthouse.  The Foundation may sell “friend of the lighthouse” memberships to raise funds for restoring the structure and hopes to offer Open Tours in the future.

(2) Red Sector from 322° to 349° to cover Ohio Ledge.

1868 Characteristic: Fixed White
1939 Characteristic: Fixed White with Red Sector

(3) The Lens was moved from Nayatt Point Light.

(4) Lighthouse Keepers lived at Nayatt Point Keeper’s House until 1883.

(5) Both Conimicut Point Lighthouse and Nayatt Point Lighthouse are best viewed by boat.  Nayatt Point Lighthouse and grounds are privately owned and are not open to the public.  Distant Views of both Lighthouses can be seen from Conimicut Point Park in Warwick.

      A nearby area (Google Map) in Barrington provides good views of the old Nayatt Point Lighthouse and Conimicut Shoal Light.
Directions from Providence:
      Take I 195 East to exit number 7, US-6 E toward RI-114 S/Seekonk/Barrington and Merge onto E Shore EXWY (1.1 mi).  Turn Slight Left onto RI-114 S/Wampanoag Trail (3.5 mi).  Turn Slight Right onto RI-103 N/County Road and stay straight (0.2 mi).  Turn Left onto Middle Highway (Washington Road -2.0 mi).  Turn Right onto Nayatt Road (0.6 mi). Turn Left onto Nayatt Point Ct.  Please note and respect the Private Residences.