new london ledge light

This was a revisit for me. It was a first visit for my friend. New London and Groton are a lighthouse lover’s dream. There are three lighthouses within a few miles of each other. As a member of several lighthouse preservation nonprofits, I’m familiar with The New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation, a nonprofit created in 1987 for the purpose of maintaining this lighthouse. It is a chapter of American Lighthouse Foundation headquartered in Rockland, ME. This local group has done a lot of restoration work and has installed improvements that include A/C, a theater, a gift shop, and a museum.This lighthouse is quite unique in that it is not a conical white lighthouse. It’s a three-story, eleven-room, brick-and-granite house on a ledge with the lantern room on top. It was completed in 1909. Automated in 1987, it has been unmanned since although it is still an active aid to navigation. Although it’s 58 feet tall, it becomes dwarfed when a tall ship such as The Mystic Whaler sails past it. To tour the inside of this lighthouse, one must go by boat to Fisher’s Island Sound at the mouth of the Thames River on days when the lighthouse is open. All tours are hosted by The New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation and operated by three organizations:● The Custom House Maritime Museum from the City Pier in New London ● Project Oceanography at UConn’s Avery Point campus dock ● The Mystic Whaler, an authentic 110-foot tall ship, from New LondonEach operator has a different schedule. Tours run over a short period in the summer. On the tours, one will hear of Ernie, supposedly a former keeper who haunts this lighthouse. Aren’t they all haunted? One can see and photograph the lighthouse from the southern end of Pequot Avenue beyond New London Harbor Lighthouse. With a decent zoom lens, one can get good, clear photos. For more interesting photos, wait for a ferry to pass as it heads for Long Island or Block Island or returns. This lighthouse is also visible in the distance from the grounds of UConn’s Avery Point campus off Shennecossett Road in Groton. The area along the sculpture park affords the best views. And, while there, one can walk right up to Avery Point Light overlooking Fishers Island Sound and the mouth of the Thames River.On this visit, we stopped on Pequot Avenue and sat on the stone wall awhile. Then, we went over to Avery Point, my favorite place in Groton. After visiting Avery Point Light, we sat in our folding chairs near the sculpture park facing the Thames River and watched the ferries and other marine traffic passing New London Ledge Lighthouse and New London Harbor Lighthouse. If you found this review and/or my earlier review helpful, kindly click YES below.

Ledge Light has been transformed over the past five years. It has gone from an empty building with peeling paint and rubbish to a world class historic site. The building and its spectacular location are so very unique and as an added bonus, there's an Interpretive Center filled with historical information about this local treasure. You'll find almost every room open to the public to wander at your whim. Information abounds on the many exhibit panels that you can read as you explore each and every corner of this light station that was home to many a keeper over the almost 80 years that it was manned. An air-conditioned theater runs a documentary produced by National Geographic producer and photographer, Todd Gipstein, full of history and drama. Ernie, the resident ghost dwells in his fully furnished room…the room closest to the light tower where he is believed to have fallen (or jumped) to his death in the 1920s. The same light tower that is currently open to all visitors. Before boarding the boat back to shore, you can browse the gift shop that's full of Ledge Light themed merchandise including DVDs of the documentary, t-shirts and copies of photographs on display throughout the Interpretive Center. Currently, there is only one way to get to the lighthouse. Project Oceanology, on the UConn campus at Avery Point, runs tours during the summer months on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 4:00pm. There are plans in the future to include Ledge Light tours on other vessels operating in the Thames River and Long Island Sound. This is a must see for all who live in or are planning a visit to Southeastern Connecticut.

This New London history at it's best. If you can see one thing historical this should be it. It can be seen from the city of Groton and New London, and you can get a good look at it if you use the Long Island Ferry.

Whilst the light house has occasional tours, it is always visible leaving the Thames River by boat to Long Island or Fishers Island or just out for a sail. Restored and beautiful entrance to the 19th Century whaling village (now city of) New London

This is the iconic light house of New London. Stories say it is haunted (aren't all lighthouses?) but it is beautiful to sit at our beach and see it out there as well as pass by on our way to Block Island!

The Light House could use some repair and a few coats of paint, but is historically significant to the area. Get there via UCONN Avery Point's Project O.

If you have the chance, definitely take a look at this light house! So beautiful! I love lighthouses and I've gone here a few times & will definitely go back.

When we tried to find how to get to the light house, on a Tuesday, we found out the boat on worked Thursday - Saturday, so make plans a head of time to visit.

A short boat trip out from Avery Point in Groton with Project O and you can roam around this fabulous historic building. My husband and I are thrilled with the changes that have been made to Ledge Lighthouse. They now have an Interpretive Center that includes many rooms with exhibit panels and photographs, a theater that plays the documentary "Ledge Light," and a furnished keeper's room where you might encounter Ernie, the ghost. It's a must-do summer experience for young and old.

My family of 4 took a boat trip to New London Ledge Light. It was absolutely amazing. Filled with history, folklore and even some ghost stories. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who will be in the New London/Groton area. If you are a local and have never made the trip, it is a MUST DO!!!! The boat tours go out of Project "O" at UConn's Avery Point campus. It is worth every penny!

Fyret var lidt romantisk at kigge på. Vi stod inde på land, ved det hvide fyrtårn, og kunne se det gamle røde langt ude i vandet. Et must, når man er på de kanter.