Sometimes, you just need to trade the roar of the subway for a quiet, salty sea breeze. If you are looking for a charming maritime getaway, we have the perfect weekend day trip.
Located at the entrance to Stonington, Connecticut’s only Atlantic-facing port, you’ll find a modest stone citadel that has stood watch over the harbor for over 185 years.
Once a vital guide for ships navigating the treacherous Fishers Island Sound, it is now an intimate, fascinating peek into America’s seafaring past.
A beacon of history
Built in 1840, this low stone building is notable for its beautiful architecture, featuring ornamental cornices around the tower and weighty granite lintels above the doors and windows. Interestingly, when it was first constructed, it featured a nearly flat roof with simulated battlements.
It leaked so terribly that local craftsmen had to be called in just two years later to install the gabled roof you see today.
The lighthouse remained in active use until 1889, serving as a rather dank home to seven different keepers and their families.
Inside the nation’s first lighthouse museum
After a new keeper’s house was built next door, the original lighthouse sat deserted until 1925, when Historic Stonington acquired the property for just $3,650. It officially opened to the public in 1927, earning the title of the first lighthouse museum in the United States.
Today, the museum houses a deeply personal collection of the area’s maritime and agricultural history.
History buffs will love the unique artifacts on display, which include locally-made stoneware, exotic items brought back from China by local sea captains, and even remnants from the 1814 British attack—like a cannonball lodged in a hearthstone and a rare congreve rocket.
Breathtaking views and picnic grounds
If you are up for a tiny workout, you can climb the 29 circular steps and a short ladder to reach the very top of the tower. You will be rewarded with breathtaking, sweeping views of Long Island Sound that overlook three different states.
Once you are back on the ground, roll out a blanket and enjoy a picnic.
The grassy lighthouse grounds face out across Little Narragansett Bay toward Rhode Island, and feature stunning perennial borders maintained by the Stonington Garden Club.
What to know before you go
The Lighthouse Museum officially opened for the 2026 season on May 15th.
Please note that because of its historic architecture, the museum is not wheelchair accessible at this time and there are no ramps available.
If you are bringing your pet along for the road trip, dogs are allowed on the outdoor lighthouse property, but only certified service animals may go inside the museum itself.
📍 7 Water Street, Stonington, Connecticut
🕐 Open Thursday – Monday, 10am to 4pm
🎟️ $15 for Adults; $10 for Seniors (ages 65+); $8 for Children (ages 5-17). Bonus: Your ticket grants you access to both the Lighthouse Museum and the Capt. Nathaniel B. Palmer House!
