Connecticut Lighthouses:
Southeastern Region
New London, Groton, Noank, and Stonington
Photo Gallery CT Southeastern Lights
Connecticut’s rocky shoreline and its many treacherous ledges and islands in Fisher’s Island Sound and Long Island Sound, constantly kept mariners on the alert, claiming the lives of many during New England’s fierce storms.
The lighthouses were built in Southeast Connecticut to accommodate the increasing traffic for the fishing and whaling industries in guiding mariners around the rocky ledges of Fisher’s Island into New London’s frequently foggy harbor, and around the dangerous ledges at the entrance to that harbor, into Stonington Harbor, and traffic entering the Mystic River.
Lighthouses in the New London and Stonington Regions You Can Drive or Hike To
Note: The lighthouses mentioned below that you can drive to can also be viewed from various boat tours offered, see Boat Tours below.
Click any lighthouse link below to find out information about each lighthouse including historic snapshots, directions, more photos, and links for places to visit.
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Connecticut Lighthouses in the New London and Stonington Regions - Best Viewed by Boat
Of all of Connecticut's 20 lighthouses, fifteen Lighthouses are best viewed by boat, and only five Lighthouses are easily accessible to visit by car:
Click any lighthouse link below to find out information about each lighthouse including historic snapshots, directions, more photos, and links for places to visit.
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Note: For stories of famous lighthouse events and folklore, check out the Lighthouse Stories section of this website. There you'll also find info on my book “New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues, and Other Tales” with over 40 stories and lots of accompanying images. Produced by publisher Schiffer Books. In the book you'll find detailed accounts of one of Connecticut's local haunted lighthouses, New London Ledge Light. You'll also find two different stories of two famous maritime disasters that occurred locally, the famous steamship Larchmont disaster, and the sinking of the Metis. Both events helped to spark travel safety precautions we use today. |
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Places to Visit:
New London and Stonington Region
In New London, the Coast Guard Academy Museum contains artifacts spanning over two hundred years of history of America' maritime service.
For family fun, visit Ocean Beach Park, with its beaches, and miniature golf course.
Take the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat Ride pulled by an authentic steam locomotive. At Steamboat dock, the Connecticut River Museum, exhibits a replica of the Turtle, America's first"'submarine", built in 1775.
Mystic Seaport is a recreated 19th century village with a maritime museum, a working preservation shipyard, and four National Historic Landmark vessels. The Mystic Aquarium nearby provides many exhibits of all kinds of marine life.
In Groton, visit the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum, which houses the Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine.
Stonington is rich in historic architecture from the 18th to the 19th centuries. Stonington Harbor lighthouse is now part of the Old Lighthouse Museum owned by the Stonington Historical Society.
Stonington is also part of the Connecticut Wine Trail, which showcases 19 of Connecticut's wineries.
Boat Tours: Connecticut's Southeastern Regions:
New London and Stonington
Boat cruises mentioned below offer many types of cruises. While some may offer specific lighthouse cruises, some will pass by specific lighthouses as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, ferrying passengers, whale watching, fishing tours and other types of excursions. Contact info is provided to help you plan your special trips to New England’s shorelines. Enjoy!
DownEast Lighthouse Cruises
Cruises are from a real lobster boat. Lighthouse tours include Fisher's Island tour, Eastern Fisher's Island tour, and New London Harbor tour.
Pine Island Marina,
Groton, CT.
Phone:
(860) 460-1802
Lighthouses: Avery Point, New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London Harbor Light, Morgan Point Lighthouse, Stonington Harbor Lighthouse, Race Rock (NY), Little Gull (NY), and North Dumpling (NY)
Capt. John's Sport Fishing Center
Special lighthouse tours, and other adventure tours.
15 First Street
Waterford, Connecticut 06385
(860) 443-7259
info@sunbeamfleet.com
Lighthouses: New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London Harbor Light, Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse, Lynde Point Lighthouse, Morgan Point Lighthouse, North Dumpling Light (NY), Race Rock Light (NY), Latimer Reef Light (NY)
Sea Pony Cruises
Special lighthouse tours along Long Island Sound in a dinner tour boat.
Suite 202
14 Eugene O'Neill Drive
New London, CT 06320
Phone: (860) 440-2734
Lighthouses: New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London Harbor Light, Avery Point, Morgan’s Point, Latimer Point (NY), The Dumplings (NY), and Race Light (NY).
Project Oceanology
Tour of New London Harbor which includes a walking tour up to the lighthouse tower.
Avery Point
Groton, Connecticut 06340
(860) 445-9007
Lighthouses: New London Ledge Lighthouse
Additional Resources
For All You Connecticut Visitors