Rose Island Lighthouse

The girls and I have just finished rowing "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge", and yesterday, we were able to visit a real lighthouse! 

  

The Rose Island Lighthouse was built in 1870, and was a functioning lighthouse until 1971.  It was closed down two years after the Newport Bridge lit the Narragansett Bay up; the lighthouse was no longer needed.  It sat for 13 years, battered by the weather and vandals, until the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation was formed.  Thirteen years and one million dollars later, the lighthouse re-opened to the public.  Guests can stay the night, or come work at the lighthouse for a week! 

  

  

It was a gorgeous day!  We even got to climb up into the top of the lighthouse!  We spent a delightful 2 hours exploring the island and combing the beaches for shells and sea glass. 

  

This evening we met friends at Beavertail Park, which is at the southern tip of Conanicut Island, where the town of Jamestown, RI is.  There is a beautiful lighthouse at Beavertail, and we were there late enough to see it shining it's light! 

  

It was a wonderful way to spend the last two days of summer!