Execution Rocks Lighthouse (New Rochelle, New York)

USA / New York / Sands Point / New Rochelle, New York
 lighthouse, interesting place

Execution Rocks Lighthouse is located in the middle of Long Island Sound between Davids' Island in New Rochelle and Sands Point on Long Island. Although technically part of the city of New Rochelle, the island is under the authority of the United States Coast Guard and is off limits to the public. Established in 1849 and lit in 1850, the current Granite Lighthouse structure stands 60 feet tall with a brown band midway up the conical white shape. The uninhabited keepers structure was built in 1868 of granite and sits alongside the light and is presently used for electronics housing and spare parts storage.

It is rumored that the lighthouse's site got its name before the Revolutionary War when British colonial authorities executed people by chaining them to the rocks at low tide, allowing the rising water to attempt to drown them. A separate theory is that the name was chosen to reflect the historically dangerous shallows created by the rocks during low tides which were responsible for the 'executions' of many unlucky ships.

Lighthouse keepers who manned Execution Rocks had a clause in their contracts unique to the US Lighthouse Service & US Coast Guard: A keeper and their family could apply for a transfer to another station without having to give a reason why, and transfers would be granted without question or delay.

Execution Rocks Lighthouse was automated in 1979 and remains in operation today as a valuable Aid to Navigation in Long Island Sound. The island is off-limits to visitors, however, tours can be arranged well in advance with the US Coast Guard 1st District ATON team.

archive.org/details/discoveringsands0000kent/page/39/mo...
www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-1/
www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=749
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°52'40"N   73°44'16"W

Comments

  • the crew from the tv show Ghost Adventures spent a night here and did a paranormal investigation.
This article was last modified 7 months ago