Beavertail Lighthouse occupies the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, making it one of the most dramatically situated lighthouses on the New England coast. The current granite tower dates to 1856, though a lighthouse has stood on this point since 1749, making Beavertail the third-oldest lighthouse site in North America.

The lighthouse and its grounds are part of Beavertail State Park, a 153-acre preserve of rocky coastline, tidal pools, and salt-sprayed grassland. The former assistant keeper’s house now serves as the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum, with exhibits on lighthouse technology, Narragansett Bay history, and the keepers who lived at this exposed and often storm-battered station. The original fourth-order Fresnel lens is on display.

The surrounding state park draws visitors for its spectacular ocean views, world-class saltwater fishing from the rocks, and some of the best tide pool exploration in Rhode Island. The flat rocks along the eastern shore provide natural platforms for watching waves crash during storms and for observing marine life in the pools left by receding tides. Striped bass and bluefish runs bring anglers to the rocks from May through November.

The park is open year-round, with the museum typically operating from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Sunset at Beavertail, looking west across Rhode Island Sound, ranks among the finest in New England. The lighthouse is accessible from Jamestown via the bridges connecting Conanicut Island to both the mainland and Newport.

Explore Nearby

• Beavertail State Park — State Park in Rhode Island
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