Race Rock Lighthouse

Race Rock Light is a lighthouse on Race Rock Reef, southwest of Fishers Island, New York. The reef is a dangerous set of rocks off the coast of Fishers Island on Long Island Sound and was the site of many shipwrecks.

Race Rock Light was built between 1871 and 1878. Designed by Francis Hopkinson Smith (1838-1915), the lighthouse is an excellent example of 19th century engineering and design. The massive masonry foundations on the reef required seven years to complete. Once the foundations were secure, the stone structure, including the keeper's quarters and the tower, were built in only nine months. The lighthouse has a fourth-order Fresnel lens in a tower standing 67 feet (20 m) above the waterline. The Coast Guard automated the light in 1978. Race Rock Lighthouse on Wikipedia

Established: 1878

First lighted: January 1, 1879

First keeper: Neil Martin, appointed December 16, 1878

Light (1878): fourth order Fresnel lens, flashing red and white, 10 seconds
Light (1939): fourth order Fresnel lens, Incandescent oil vapor, white 18,000 cp, red 16,000 cp, 20 seconds
Light (1978): 300mm lens, 1000 watt lamp, flashing red, 10 seconds

Fog signal (1883): fog bell by machine, double blow, 20 seconds
Fog signal (1897): second class siren
Fog signal (1907): third class Daboll trumpet, 3 second blast, emergency fog bell
Fog signal (1939): first class siren, group 2 blast, 30 seconds

Height of light above sea level (1891): 68.5 feet

Automated: November, 1978

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