Point Judith Light

{{short description|Lighthouse in Rhode Island, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox lighthouse

| image_name = Point judith lighthouse.jpg

| caption = Point Judith Light in June 2023

| location = Narragansett, Rhode Island

| coordinates = {{coord|41|21|39.7|N|71|28|53|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| yearbuilt = 1810

| yearlit = 1857

| automated = 1954

| foundation = Granite blocks

| construction = Granite blocks

| shape = Octagonal conical

| marking = Lower half, white
upper half, brown
Black lantern

| height = {{convert|51|ft}}

| focalheight = {{convert|65|ft}}

| lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens

| range = {{convert|16|nmi}}

| characteristic = Occulting 3 white 15 seconds
5s on, 2s off; 2s on, 2s off; 2s on, 2s off

| fogsignal = Horn, 1 blast every 15 seconds

| module = {{Infobox NRHP

| embed = yes

| name = Point Judith Lighthouse

| image = Point Judith Light with attached house USCG.JPG

| built = 1857

| added = March 30, 1988

| mpsub = Lighthouses of Rhode Island TR

| refnum = 88000279 {{NRISref|2007a}}

}}}}

Point Judith Light is located on the west side of the entrance to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island as well as the north side of the eastern entrance to Block Island Sound.{{cite uscgll|1|2012|181}}{{cite uscghist|RI}}{{cite rowlett|ri|date=2012-10-31}} The confluence of two waterways make this area busy with water traffic and the waters around Point Judith are very cold and dangerous. Historically, even with active lighthouses, there have been many shipwrecks off these coasts.

{{Multiple image

| header = Point Judith Light

| align = left

| direction =

| total_width = 250

| perrow = 2

| image1= Point Judith Light and US Coast Guard Station in Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA (Drone Photography).jpg

| caption1 =

| image2= Point Judith Lighthouse.JPG

| caption2 =

| image3 = Point Judith Light.jpg

}}

{{clear|left}}

Three light structures have been built on this site. The original {{convert|35|ft|adj=on}} tower, built in 1810, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1815. It was replaced in 1816, by another 35-foot stone tower with a revolving light and ten lamps. The present octagonal granite tower was built in 1856. The upper half of the tower is painted brown and the lower half white to make the light structure a more effective daymark for maritime traffic. In 1871, ship captains asked that Point Judith's fog signal be changed from a horn to whistle. This change distinguished the Point Judith light from the Beavertail Lighthouse, which used a siren to announce fog. A whistle could also be heard more distinctly over the sounds of the surf in the area. Point Judith Light was automated in 1954, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.