Discover Jamestown's most visited landmark with its panoramic views of Narragansett Bay.  Located on the southernmost tip of Jamestown, Rhode Island, the Beavertail Lighthouse museum features a collection of information, artifacts, and conversation about the history and site of the third-oldest lighthouse in North America.  Come and enjoy New England hospitality as you engage with lighthouse history and with interesting elements of Narragansett Bay’s maritime science, technology, art, and culture.  Visit our gift shop, and spend some time in the spectacular Beavertail State Park adjoining the lighthouse site.

Some notes on our historic buildings: The dwelling that houses the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum was built in 1898 to house an assistant keeper, who helped maintain both the beacon and foghorn systems.  The keeper’s house was built earlier – in 1856, along with the granite tower and the first of several large fog-signal buildings that were important parts of the Beavertail Light Station.  The last of the larger sound-signaling buildings, along with its two fog horn system generators and compressors, was destroyed in the 1938 hurricane.  The subsequent removal of building and equipment debris revealed the remains of the stonefoundation of the first light tower sited at Beavertail in 1749. The destroyed foghorn building was replaced by the current, smaller fog-signal house that presently houses the RIDepartment of Environmental Management’s aquarium.  Restoration of both keepers’ houses began in 1983, and the museum opened in 1989 as a part ofthe RI State Parks Association.  The non-profit Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association (BLMA) was organized in 1992 by a dedicated group of docents, many of whom still serve the all-volunteer association today in all its endeavors.

To learn more about the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association write, call or e-mail:

BLMA
P.O. Box 83
Jamestown, RI 02835
phone: (401)423-3270
info@BeavertailLight.org