Avery Point Lighthouse (Photo by Ron Foster)
Location: Groton, Connecticut (View Map)
Coordinates: 41° 19′ 03″N 72° 03′ 52″W
Overview:
Built in 1944, this gray, octagonal-shaped, concrete structure owned by the University of Connecticut was once slated for demolition. Through a cooperative agreement, the American Lighthouse Foundation and its Avery Point Lighthouse Society chapter raised the necessary funds and completed a six-year, $500,000 restoration of the tower in 2006. The lighthouse was relit as a private aid-to-navigation on October 15th, 2006. In 2022, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Quick Lighthouse Facts:
- Year Built: 1944
- Height of Tower: 41 feet
- Description: Gray, octagonal-shaped, concrete structure.
- Status: After being discontinued in 1967, the lighthouse was relit as a private-aid-to navigation in 2006. A solar powered LED optic serves as the current light source with a characteristic of a green flash every 4 seconds.
Grounds Open to Public
The lighthouse is located on the grounds of the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point Campus in Groton, CT. A memorial walkway, open to the public, leads visitors along the shoreline to the lighthouse tower. Enjoy views of the entrance of the Thames River as well as New London Ledge Lighthouse and New London Harbor Lighthouse.
