Sept. 2006:  Commemorative History of Little Gull Light Station now available. Click here to order.

Located at the eastern end of Long Island Sound, Little Gull Island marked the sound's access to the open sea. The four mile expanse between Little Gull Island and Fishers Island, known as the Race, develops currents in excess of five knots. With opposing winds or heavy onshore seas on a falling tide, the portal to the sound piled up into mountainous snowcapped peaks.

A survey of the island in 1803 described it as having about one acre of land above high water. The report further indicated that the island eroded very little over the years, and it was surrounded by rocky reefs that would help prevent encroachment of the sea. Some stones were available for the towers foundation, but for the most part, the report concluded, materials would have to be transported to the island by sea.

The first light on Little Gull Island, a 50 foot hammered freestone tower, was lit in 1806 in an effort to prevent the numerous wrecks that occurred in the hazardous waters where Long Island Sound and Block Island Sound meet. It represents one of the first efforts by the Federal Government to provide lighted navigational aids. The keepers of the original lighthouse overlooked naval activities between the Americans and the British that took place in the vicinity of “the Race” during the War of 1812. The British landed troops here in 1813, forced the keeper to extinguish the light, and removed the lamps to prevent its being relit. The present Little Gull Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1868, one of the last of the masonry structures built on the East coast. Some of its design elements - the Italianate inspired appearance, the distinctive door lintel, the cast iron central tower, stairs and watch deck floor - were the first glimpses of lighthouse architecture to come. The 9 ft. high 4 1/2 ft. diameter 2nd order Fresnel lens was originally installed in 1869.