Stonington, CT

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The Lighthouse is unquestionably the most popular landmark of Stonington. More than just a citadel, the lighthouse has become a symbol of the town itself, which has endured and preserved over the years.

The lighthouse was built in 1840 when it replaced an earlier lighthouse. The structure was used for around 50 years and then became a damp residentence for the keepers of the lighthouse and their families till 1909.

Vacated for a few years in between, the Stonington Historical Society acquired the lighthouse in 1925, which purchased it from the U.S. government for $3,650. In 1927, the society opened its doors to the public as the nation’s first lighthouse museum.
The museum is home to artifacts as old as 1885, reflecting the town’s maritime and agricultural history. Stonington has been attacked twice by the British naval forces.

The museum also houses artifacts that shed light on the events of the second attack in 1814. For instance, visitors can see a cannonball lodged in a hearthstone taken from a house on Water Street. There is also a Congreve rocket inside the museum that was fired on the village by the British fleets. And that is why the lighthouse museum is a testament to Stonington’s resilience in the face of opposition.

Outside the museum are green patches of grass facing Little Narragansett Bay toward Watch Hill and Napatree Point in Rhode Island. The Stonington Garden Club maintains the grounds.

The most adventurous part of the museum is the old, circular stairway leading to the top of the tower, where you can get a glimpse of all three states.

Location: 7 Water St., Stonington, CT 06378
Hours : Open Fridays & Saturdays starting from 28th August to 31st October from 11 am to 3 pm.
Tickets: $5 for adults, $3 for children aged 5 and above, Free for children below 3.