Race Rock Light Station
Also known as: Race Rock Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Race Rock Light Station is a granite lighthouse built on a submerged ledge at the eastern end of Long Island Sound, southwest of Race Point on Fishers Island, New York. Construction began in 1871 and finished in 1878, and the light first shone on New Year's Day 1879. A concrete and cut-stone foundation supports an oval granite pier, which carries a two-and-one-half-story keepers' dwelling with an attached tower and lantern. Its Gothic Revival styling, with steep roof and arched windows, set it apart from most lighthouses of the period. Civil engineer Francis Hopkinson Smith led the work, which took seven years for the foundation alone because of currents, storms and ice. Smith later built the Block Island breakwater and the base of the Statue of Liberty, and wrote novels drawing on the project. The station remains largely unaltered apart from roofing, windows, doors and navigation equipment. It was automated in 1978 and still operates as a Coast Guard aid to navigation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under three criteria. It has been an active aid to navigation since 1879 and was one of the last eastern offshore lights built on a solid masonry base. It is linked to engineer, artist and author Francis Hopkinson Smith, who built it. It is also a well-preserved example of Gothic Revival lighthouse design, unusual among lighthouses of its era.
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 05000347, listed April 29, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 0.6 mi. SW of Race Point, Fishers Island |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | April 29, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000347 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871 to 1955 |
| Architect / builder | Francis Hopkinson Smith |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History, Transportation, Architecture, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and maintained as an automated aid to navigation with a light and fog signal; automated in 1978. Historic integrity described as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.24561, -72.04646 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 05000347.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7278919
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.