Tibbetts Point Light
Why it's listed
Tibbetts Point Light guards the east side of the entrance to the St. Lawrence River at Cape Vincent, New York. A light was first established here in 1827 and rebuilt in 1854, when a fourth-order catadioptric lens was first exhibited. In 1883 the conical brick tower was repaired, its top rebuilt and a new octagonal lantern installed. The tower is stuccoed and painted white, stands 58 feet 7 inches high, and is entered through an attached one-story gabled shed. Inside, a circular iron stairway and iron ladders lead to the watchroom and lantern. The original lens, made by L. Sautter & Co. of Paris, remains in place. The station also includes a brick fog-signal building from 1895, an iron oil house, a keeper's dwelling from 1880 and an assistant keeper's dwelling from 1907. The light is now powered from shore and is still used as a navigation aid. Its intact tower, lens and support buildings make it a surviving example of Great Lakes lighthouse operations.
Significance in brief: The record describes the light as marking the east side of the entrance to the St. Lawrence River, with a light first established in 1827. It retains its original Paris-made fourth-order lens and a group of related station buildings. A fragmentary note says the site is significant to Great Lakes shipping trade and is among the oldest to survive.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84002412, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Tibbetts Point, Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002412 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good, with interior, exterior and environs intact. Still operating as a coast light; the 1895 fog-signal building has not been used since 1973, and the keeper's dwellings are occupied by Coast Guard personnel. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 44.10072, -76.36997 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84002412.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7800327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.