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Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse

🇺🇸Connecticut, USInactive

Location & Light Range

About Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse

The Black Rock Harbor Light, also identified as Fayerweather Island Light, is a stone structure standing 41 meters tall. It was erected in 1823 on the south end of Fayerweather Island, marking the entrance to Black Rock Harbor. Originally built by Abisha Woodward, the first lighthouse at this location was a wooden tower operational by 1808. That structure was destroyed by a storm in 1821, leading to the construction of the current stone lighthouse two years later. This light served as an active navigational aid until 1933. Following its decommissioning, it was gifted to the City of Bridgeport in 1934 and was relit as a non-navigational aid in 2000 after restoration efforts.

Why it matters: The lighthouse is listed as a contributing property for Bridgeport's Seaside Park historic district.

Background
Black Rock Harbor Light, also known as Fayerweather Island Light, is a lighthouse in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States which stands on the south end of Fayerweather Island and marks the entrance to Black Rock Harbor. The first lighthouse at the site, built by Abisha Woodward under contract with the United States government, was a wooden tower that was lit and made operational by 1808. A storm destroyed the tower in 1821 and the current, stone lighthouse was erected in its place in 1823. The Black Rock Harbor Light was an active navigational aid until 1933 when it was replaced by two automatic lights offshore. The beacon was subsequently given to the City of Bridgeport in 1934. Two significant efforts during the 1980s and 1990s served to restore the aging tower and the light was relit as a non-navigational aid in 2000. Black Rock Lighthouse is listed as a contributing property for Bridgeport's Seaside Park historic district.

Light & Optic

Flash Count
1 flash
Focal Height
12.5m

Construction & History

Year Built
1823

References & Identifiers

Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q3378186 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
41m

Location

City
Connecticut
Country
🇺🇸US
Latitude
41.1424°
Longitude
-73.2174°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Fairfield at 0.9 NM to the W. Other ports served include Bridgeport (2.1 NM NE), Bridgeport (2.7 NM NE), POOTATUCK (5.2 NM ENE), Milford (8.7 NM ENE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse is currently listed as inactive. It may have been decommissioned, replaced by a different navigation aid, or temporarily taken out of service. Mariners should check the latest Notices to Mariners for current status.
What shipping routes pass near Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse?+
Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse is located within the US East Coast shipping lane — a major shipping corridor serving ports along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.