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Tibbetts Point Lighthouse

33439 County Rd 6, Cape Vincent, NY 13618, USA

Name and Location

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York, United States.

Construction and History

The Tibbetts Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1827 during the era of steam-powered shipping on the Great Lakes. The tower stands at a height of 21 meters (69 feet) and features a distinctive octagonal shape with a lantern room housing a Fresnel lens.

Architecture and Materials

No specific information available.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light range is approximately 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers). The light characteristic is Fl(3)W.15s, meaning it emits three white flashes every 15 seconds. The lighthouse was automated in 1969.

Accessibility and Visiting

As of today, the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse no longer serves as an active aid to navigation, but instead has been converted into a museum. Visitors can access the site by car, with parking available on-site. Guided tours are available during the summer months.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the top of the tower, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Ontario and the surrounding countryside.

Anecdotes and Folklore

  • A severe storm damaged the lantern room in 1857, requiring repairs to restore its light.
  • During World War II, the US Coast Guard used the lighthouse as a lookout post for spotting enemy ships on the Great Lakes.

Technical and Operational Details

No specific information available.

Further Information

For further reading, refer to the Wikipedia article on "Tibbetts Point Light" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibbetts_Point_Light). The lighthouse is currently managed by the Jefferson County Historical Society and Museum.

Details

NameTibbetts Point Lighthouse
CityCape Vincent
CountryUnited States
Coordinates44.1006709, -76.3703059
Year of construction1827
Eventsshipwrecks; rescues
Keeper storiesCaptain James Tibbetts
Storiesdamage to lantern room during a severe storm in 1857
Tower height21
Renovationsconverted to a museum
Access descriptionby car with parking available on-site and guided tours during peak season
Accessibletrue
Parkingtrue
Landscape typecountryside
View descriptionbreathtaking views of Lake Ontario and the surrounding countryside
Guided tourstrue
Facilitiespicnic areas, restrooms, parking lot
Nearby attractions["Cape Vincent village shops and restaurants","Lake Ontario shoreline","boat tour of the lake"]
AIS Radarfalse
Light characteristic"Fl(3)W.15s"
Light range12
Automatedtrue