Notes:
(1) Rose Island Light was built to mark Rose Island and guide navigation into Newport Harbor or through the East Passage of Narragansett Bay.

      During the Colonial period, Rose Island, like other grassy Narragansett Bay islands, was important for protecting grazing animals from predators.  Barges ferried the livestock between Newport and the island.  Due to the island’s strategic location, fortifications were built on Rose Island to defend Newport Harbor.

      During the Revolutionary War, a British battery was built on the Rose Island in 1778 and a French fort was constructed in 1781 after the British were forced to evacuate Newport.  In 1799, the federal government purchased Rose Island from the Goddard family during the construction of the American Fort Hamilton (1798 to 1800) which was never completed, armed or garrisoned.

      In 1869, A Lighthouse was built upon the southwest circular bastion of Fort Hamilton to guide steamships of the Bristol and Fall River Lines into Newport Harbor.  A French Second Empire Integral style* wood framed Lighthouse with a Tower and Lantern Room above a mansard roof was built and exhibited a Fixed Red Light illuminated by a Sixth-order Fresnel lens.  Rose Island Light was First Lit on January 20, 1870 and marked the island for navigation sailing through the East Passage of Narragansett Bay as well.

      Rose Island Lighthouse was constructed during Newport’s Gilded Age and Golden Age of Sailing.  The Lighthouse was important to the safety of passengers aboard steamships entering the harbor of Newport’s summer resort.  Rose Island became a popular place for picnic parties.  Coastal freighting navigating through the East Passage of Narragansett Bay was also aided by the new Light.  During the same year the Lighthouse became active, the American sailing yacht, Magic,won America’s Cup which led to the “longest winning streak in sports” of 110-years (1870 to 1980).  Newport became a renown Yachting Center partly due to the distinctive yacht designs of naval architect and steam engineer, Captain Nathanael Herreshoff whose yachts defended America’s Cup six times.

      In 1883, the U.S. Navy used the old fort on Rose Island for storing explosives. On August 10, 1885, a Fog Bell was installed in an A-frame Bell Tower located in front of Rose Island Light.  In 1912, a brick Fog Signal Building was constructed to power a Reed Horn and a Oil house was also built.

      During World Wars I and II, torpedoes and mines were filled in Fort Hamilton’s old barracks and bunkers located on a isolated area of Rose Island.  After World War II, Rose Island Naval Torpedo Station was abandoned when the federal government declared the island (except for the Lighthouse) surplus.

      In 1971, the U.S. Coast Guard extinguished the Light and abandoned the Lighthouse after the Newport Bridge was placed on the navigational charts (see Note 4).

*French Second Empire Revival style was a influential architectural style used for public and residential buildings from 1860 to 1880. The ‘Integral’ term refers to the integrated Light Tower and Keeper’s House.

(2) The original Characteristic was Fixed Red.

(3) 1939 Optic: Fourth-order Fresnel lens, Fixed Red 2,700 candlepower electric light

(4) In 1969, the Lighthouse became obsolete by the Lights on the Newport Bridge and the Coast Guard deactivated the Light in 1971. Unfortunately, the abandoned Light Station was severely vandalized from 1971 to 1984.

      On July 10, 1984, Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation was established to restore and maintain the lighthouse and the surrounding grounds as a open public historic site.  On October 2, 1985, the General Services Administration deeded the Lighthouse to the City of Newport at no cost.

      Since 1984, the Foundation has been restoring the Lighthouse to its 1912 appearance.  Rose Island Light was opened to the public after the final permit was approved on August 22, 1990.  Rose Island Lighthouse was relighted as a private aid to navigation on August 7, 1993.

(5) Directions to the Ferry From Boston (70 miles):
      Take Route 128 to Route 24 South, heading toward Fall River and Newport.
Route 24 South merges with Route 195 West for one half mile, so stay to the right and take the next exit off I-195 to continue on Route 24 South to Newport.  Route 24 South merges with Route 114 towards Newport.  The route changes names from West Main Road in Middletown to Broadway in Newport.

Follow the signs to the Gateway Visitor’s Information Center.  Opposite Newport City Hall (on the left) turn Right onto Marlborough Street.  Drive straight to the end of the street (the Marriott Hotel and the Gateway Visitor’s Center will be in front of you; Newport’s Fire Station is on the left and Cardine’s Field is on the right).

Turn Right onto America’s Cup Avenue and turn Left at the next light onto the Goat Island Connector Road (just after the Gateway Visitor’s Center and before the little Victorian R.R. Station platform).  Travel the connector road and after a stop, drive straight across the causeway onto Goat Island.

On Goat Island, turn Left and keep to the left until you reach the Marina Office building.  Park and walk through the Marina Grille outdoor patio to the Marina Office to purchase a overnight parking pass.


      Depending on the season, ferry transportation to the Rose Island Lighthouse is provided either by the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation (from the Mobil fuel dock near the Marina Office) or by the Jamestown and Newport Ferry (from the ferry / shuttle dock in front of the Rum Runner store).

     On Rose Island, the Lighthouse museum is open daily from July 1 to Labor Day between 10 AM and 4 PM for public tours only.  Guest lodging is available after the museum closes using the two keeper’s bedrooms.
For reservation information, visit Stay for an Overnight in the Rose Island Lighthouse Museum or Keeper for the Week Program.

      Sensational Cruises of scenic Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay provide picturesque views of the Lighthouse. See Side Menu for links.