Avery Point Light

The Avery Point Lighthouse is located on the campus of the University of Connecticut and underwent a complete historic restoration, re-opening in 2006. The tower is located on the east side of the Thames River near the town of Groton. The tower is easy to get to, but the interior is not open to the public. The lighthouse is 41-feet high and features a green flash every four seconds. Before the area surrounding the lighthouse was the University of Connecticut, it was known as the Avery Point campus, 72-acres of land owned by Morton F. Plant. In 1938, Plant's land was sold to the State of Connecticut, which later sold it to the federal government. The agreement included as a stipulation of the sale that the land be used for lights and other buildings in the aid of navigation and that those buildings be constructed by the mid-1940's. The lighthouse construction was completed in 1943, but did not light up until the spring of 1944, due to World War II. The lighthouse is unique because it is one of a few that look more like a tower than a traditional lighthouse. The building is octagonal in shape and features two internal levels, which includes the upper level lantern room. When the United States Coast Guard moved its training center off Avery Point, the land again became occupied by the State of Connecticut. Shortly after a group of local citizens got together to create the Avery Point Lighthouse Society the structure underwent renovates that were completed in the fall of 2005.