Beavertail Lighthouse deed in Jamestown to be transferred

JAMESTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — U.S. Senator Jack Reed is set to transfer the deed of the historic Beavertail Lighthouse next week to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

First erected in 1749 and rebuilt as a 68-foot tower in 1856, the Beavertail Lighthouse faces south toward the Rhode Island Sound and the exit of Narragansett Bay.

According to a release, the transfer of the deed is an effort to preserve a piece of the Ocean State’s maritime heritage.

Currently, DEM manages Beavertail State Park, and the transfer of ownership is made through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

In 1993, residents formed a volunteer organization to manage the lighthouse, supported restoration of the lighthouse and related memorabilia, and helped educate the public about lighthouses and lifesaving by maintaining the museum and offering educational programs.

However, Reed announced last July that DEM will oversee the property going forward.

Currently, Rhode Island is currently home to 22 working lighthouses, as well as the ruins of several more.