Castle Hill Lighthouse
800-870 Ocean Ave, Newport, Rhode Island
Built in 1890
Location:
Marking the entrance to the eastern side of Narragansett Bay, a main shipping channel. The lighthouse is near the Castle Hill Inn and Resort, where the grounds are open to the public year round.
| Latitude: 41° 27' 44" N |
| Longitude: 71° 21' 47" W |
Historic Stories:
The property that the lighthouse would be built on belonged to a famous naturalist Alexander Agassiz, who sold the rocky edge of the land for one dollar with no access through his property. The idea was for contractors to build from the waterside. Construction, however, was delayed when Agassiz refused to allow the contractors right-of-way through his property to the site, since the rocky shoreline prevented much work from the water. After 2 years of negotiations, Agassiz finally allowed access to construct the lighthouse. There were many other battles later between Agassiz and the government.
| Castle Hill Lighthouse survived the 1938 Hurricane without serious damage, but the keeper’s dwelling was destroyed and never rebuilt. | 
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In June of 1989, the tanker World Prodigy ran aground south of the lighthouse on a rocky reef, spilling nearly 300,000 gallons of oil. The Coast Guard used Castle Hill as the response center to help with the clean up. No injuries occurred.
In February of 2005, a 350-foot freighter got caught on the rocks near the lighthouse, and after sometime was finally able to free itself without suffering any major damage. There were no leaks to the vessel, no spillage of oil into the bay, and no one was injured.
Places to Visit Nearby:
Newport is Rhode Island’s jewel for tourists from all over the world.
The Breakers |
These include its famous mansions with tours about these architectual splendors of the rich and famous. |
The road to Castle Hill lighthouse is part of the historic Ten Mile Drive (Ocean Drive) along Newport’s shoreline with some great natural shoreline views and elegant Victorian homes and Newport mansions.
At the lighthouse grounds, visitors can stay at the Castle Inn Resort, which also contains a marina for boaters. Public parking is available at Castle Hill Cove Marina, located before the Inn.
| You'll find a trail that leads to the lighthouse from the parking area. |  |
The Newport Cliff Walk has been designated as New England’s first National Recreation trail starting at the western end of Easton's Beach. The Cliff Walk is 3.5 miles along an elevated path, where you'll get the chance to see the many mansions that define Newport along with picturesque views of the harbor.
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Newport Harbor is also known as one of the yachting capitals of the world. |
Newport also offers plenty of beaches for visitors.
Visit the Museum of Newport History to learn about Newport’s rich history and architectural beauty in its many mansions.
Directions:
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From US Route 195 take Route 138 South towards Newport, merge onto Route 238 into Newport center.
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From Route 238 in Newport, you'll merge onto Thames Street south along the harbor and then turn right onto Wellington Avenue
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At the first stop sign, turn right onto Harrison Avenue and bear to the right though a stop sign to remain on Harrison Avenue. Stay to the right along the harbor.
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When the road forks, bear right onto Ridge Road.
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After going past the Coast Guard Station the road turns sharply to the right and becomes Castle Hill Avenue, and then turns sharply to the left and becomes Ocean Avenue.
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From Ocean Avenue, make a quick right onto Castle Hill Road, which leads to the Castle Hill Inn and Resort.
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Public parking is available at Castle Hill Cove Marina, located on your right before the inn. A trail leads to the lighthouse from the parking area.
Contact Info:
Castle Inn and Resort
Local Boat Tours
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, fishing tours and other types of excursions. Enjoy!
Rhode Island Fast Ferry
Offers weekly lighthouse tours in season. Their narrated high-speed ferry cruises cover ten Rhode Island lighthouses in Narragansett Bay. They also provde ferry services to Martha's Vineyard and Block Island.
1347 Roger Williams Way
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: (401) 295-4040
Email: info@fastferry.com
Save the Bay Tours
Organization for lighthouse and coastal preservation provides nature and seal watching tours. They provide an extensive 7-hour Ultimate Lighthouse Tour covering most of the lighthouses in Narragansett Bay. The cruise includes a stopover lunch to explore the grounds of Rose Isand Lighthouse.
100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence, RI 02905
Phone: (401) 272-3540 x103
Coastal Queen Cruises
Offers weekly, narrated, lighthouse boat tours most of the year. Guests will have panoramic views of Rose Island Lighthouse, Castle Hill Light, Goat Island Lighthouse and more. They offer maximum comfort as this tour boat has a weatherproof interior that can be heated on chilly days.
5 Bowen's Landing, Bowen's Wharf
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 423-9900 x1
Email: info@cruiseri.com
Classic Cruises of Newport
Newport Harbor excursions aboard a newly restored Elco Motor Yacht, called the Rumrunner, built during prohibition in 1929 for local bootleggers, or go sailing on the 72-foot Schooner Madeleine, the 80-foot Schooner Adirondack II, or 48-foot Sloop Eleanor, which include sunset sails. All offer views by the Newport lighthouses, and they have a special "Lighthouses and Mimosas" cruise.
22 Bowens Wharf, Newport RI 02840
Main Office: 401-862-8441
Tickets: (401) 847-0000
Books to Explore
To order a signed paperback copy: Available also from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
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The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships involving competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
My book, Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, provides special detailed human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses along the lower coast, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions and tours you can explore. Look inside! |
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