Name and Location

Construction and History

Architecture and Materials

The tower is a cylindrical, cast-iron structure painted white, standing 15 meters (49 feet) to the lantern gallery. The foundation is an iron pile-supported platform set in the uplands of New Castle's western shore. The focal height is 52 feet (16 meters) above mean high water.

Light and Navigation

The light is a fixed green light with no officially published range, although former keeper logs suggest visibility to 10 nautical miles in clear weather. A fog signal horn sounds on demand in poor visibility. There is also a lateral mark, port-side beacon in the harbor approach.

Accessibility and Visiting

Unfortunately, there is no general public access to the tower or station grounds. Photo opportunities of the exterior and waterfront approach are available from nearby public ways along Wentworth Road and Sullivan Lane. Speculation suggests occasional heritage-group open-house events may allow limited interior tours.

Notable Views and Landscape

The light overlooks the busy Piscataqua River, with views toward Fort Constitution and the Isles of Shoals. Nearby attractions include Fort Constitution State Historic Site, Strawbery Banke Museum (Portsmouth), Prescott Park. Water-side walking paths along Wentworth Road offer scenic harbor vistas.

Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no specific anecdotes or folklore available for this lighthouse.

Technical and Operational Details

The light is unmanned and remotely monitored by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). There is no dedicated radar, but the area is monitored by nearby Coast Guard station assets. The managing authority is the USCG, which also automated the light in the 20th century.

Further Information

Portsmouth Harbor Light is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, ref. no. 09000816, inscribed October 8, 2009. It was recognized for its association with maritime commerce and navigation as well as its design representative of late 19th-century cast-iron lighthouses.