Beavertail State Park in Jamestown in Newport County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
The 1749 Foundation
Below this concrete cap sits the stone foundation Beavertail's 1749 lighthouse.
Initially built to provide safe passage into Newport's colonial harbor, it was designed and built by Peter Harrison, "America's first architect," who later designed the Redwood library, Touro Synagogue and the brick market in Newport. Beavertail was the third lighthouse built in the American Colonies.
Until recently it was believed the first light tower was circular in shape. However, a 2008 ground penetrating radar survey determined it was octagonal, made of wood, that tower burned down in 1753.
A stone tower was built in 1753. in 1779, the British burned the tower as they departed Rhode Island and removed some of the lighting equipment.
In 1856, the present granite light tower was constructed farther from shore, the old stone tower was torn down and a fog signal building was built on the foundation.>p> This old foundation was hidden and forgotten until the great hurricane of 1938 destroyed the fog signal building, tore up the ground in front of the light tower, and uncovered it.
During World War II, the Rhode Island National
this page online
Erected by Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Communications • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1749.
Location. 41° 26.951′ N, 71° 23.964′ W. Marker is in Jamestown, Rhode Island, in Newport County. It is in Beavertail State Park. It is on Beavertail Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Beavertail Rd, Jamestown RI 02835, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Narragansett Bay. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of
Photographed by Bryan Simmons, June 2012
2. The 1749 Foundation Marker
The Concrete cap is right behind the sign
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Foundation of the Original Beavertail Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); The Granite Light Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); The Keeper's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Fog Signal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); The West Passage to Narragansett Bay (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jamestown.
Also see . . . Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association. (Submitted on June 16, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts.)
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 29, 2015
3. The 1749 Foundation Marker
View of both the marker and the concrete cap on the top of the stone lighthouse foundation as it appeared in the summer of 2015.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 29, 2015
4. The 1749 Foundation Marker
A more distant view of both the marker and the concrete cap on the top of the stone lighthouse foundation as it appeared in the summer of 2015.
Photographed by Bryan Simmons, June 2012
5. The 1749 Foundation
The Front side of the foundation
Photographed by Bryan Simmons, June 2012
6. The lighthouse as it stands today
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 892 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on June 16, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on June 16, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
