Lynde Point Light
Encyclopedia
Lynde Point Lighthouse, also known as Saybrook Inner Lighthouse, is a lighthouse
in Connecticut
, United States, on the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River
on the Long Island Sound
, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
replaced the ten lamps and 9 inches (228.6 mm) reflectors. In 1890, a fifth-order lens, which is still in the tower today, was installed. In 1886, the Saybrook Breakwater Light
house was built. Lynde Point then became commonly known as the “Saybrook Inner Light" and Saybrook Breakwater became known as the “Saybrook Outer Light”. Lynde Point Lighthouse was electrified in 1955 and automated by the United States Coast Guard
in 1978. In 1990 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. Lynde Point is an active aid to navigation and is not open to the public.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States, on the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
on the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
History
In 1803, the original 35 feet (10.7 m) wooden tower was built at Lynde Point. However, the tower was too short and instead of raising the old tower a new 65 feet (19.8 m) brownstone tower was built in 1838. In 1852, a fourth-order Fresnel lensFresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
replaced the ten lamps and 9 inches (228.6 mm) reflectors. In 1890, a fifth-order lens, which is still in the tower today, was installed. In 1886, the Saybrook Breakwater Light
Saybrook Breakwater Light
Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse is a sparkplug lighthouse in Connecticut,United States, at Fenwick Point at the mouth of the Connecticut River near Old Saybrook, Connecticut...
house was built. Lynde Point then became commonly known as the “Saybrook Inner Light" and Saybrook Breakwater became known as the “Saybrook Outer Light”. Lynde Point Lighthouse was electrified in 1955 and automated by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
in 1978. In 1990 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Lynde Point is an active aid to navigation and is not open to the public.