Avery Point Lighthouse

The Avery Point Lighthouse is situated at the southeastern end of the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus located off of Shennecossett Road in the Town of Groton. In March of 1943, the USCG fulfilled the requirement of the Quit Claim Deed and completed the construction of Avery Point Lighthouse.  It was at this time considered “ready for service”; however, World War II “hostilities concerns” precluded the light from being lit until May 2, 1944. The fifty-five foot octagonal-shaped structure has two internal levels including the upper level lantern room and a walk - around outer deck.  The bearing walls are constructed of unusual block masonry units (blocks) made of a brown colored cement and sand.  Three different size blocks were used in constructing the walls. The wooden lantern room is set back and forms a ‘walk-around’ between its exterior and the top of the masonry tower.   This lantern room is hand carved and has hints of  Williamsburg architecture.  It has eight separate fixed glass lower window panes and Palladian glass upper frames.  A three-foot high balustrade travels around the top of the structure and is perhaps the most unique architectural feature of the lighthouse.  It consists of brown colored cast stone rails and corner posts located at the intersection of the octagon’s eight sides.  Between the rails of the balustrade are thirty-two equally spaced turned pink Italian marble balusters.  These balusters once adorned the famous flower gardens of Morton Plant.  According to a description in Kenneth Kochel’s 1994 edition of “America’s Atlantic Coast Lighthouses: A Traveler’s Guide”, the Avery Point Lighthouse  “. . . . was built to be a memorial tower . . . . and a symbolic representation of the Coast Guard’s lighthouse keeping responsibilities”.  It was the last lighthouse constructed in the State of Connecticut.