The New London Harbor Lighthouse

The New London Harbor Lighthouse is not only the tallest, but the oldest in Connecticut. Once the third busiest whaling port in the new world, this lighthouse stood as a reminder of New London's stature. New Bedford was ranked first, and Nantucket was second busiest.

How did this historical lighthouse come about? Well back in 1760, a lottery was held, and thousands of people bought tickets, helping the State Legislature to build it. It was finished in 1761, and this stone tower stood 64,' an impressive sight in those days. It had a large wooden lantern. This was the first lighthouse for this harbor, and only the fourth in the whole US at that time.

By 1800, the lighthouse had already started to show signs of wear. For one, a large ten inch crack had formed under the wooden lantern structure. Also by this time, with all the citizens here, the light itself was so hard to see you couldn't tell if it was a light from the tower, or from nearby homes. You couldn't even see it if you were coming into the harbor.

Abisha Woodward, who was a native to the town rebuilt the tower, which now stood 80' high, and made from hammered stone on a granite foundation. It also contained native stones. It was created in an octagon shape, which has stood up to the tests of time. The walls were nine inches thick with a brick lining. A wood staircase led up to the newly refurbished lantern room. Now the light flashed, but in 1834, was replaced again with oil lamps and a large reflector dish. A Fresnel Lens was then installed in 1857.

In addition to the lighthouse itself, a light keeper's house was also built, made of brick and more than two stories high. It too has gone under many different restorations, the last in 1900 when it was enlarged even more. The keeper's home has a private owner, but the lighthouse itself is under the guidance of the local Maritime society.

Whether you have ever visited this lighthouse, or just want a grand piece of maritime history, you can own this lighthouse. Well, not actually, but you can own a replica of these famous piece of history, hand created with the finest detail. This piece is 6.5"x 3"x 6.5" and is truly a great work of art. Because of its size it is ideal for a shelf in a den or office, or will fit easily in any curio cabinet, along with your other lighthouse collectibles. Each is hand painted and comes with a money back guarantee.

You can find not only lighthouse replicas, but lighthouses from all over the country as well as the world. In addition, if you are brave, you can also pick from an assortment of large lawn lighthouse collectibles as well. They can stand anywhere from just three feet tall, to up to ten feet or more. Products related to the New London Harbor Lighthouse Collectible include ship bells, and deck prisms, just to name a few.