Watch Hill Lighthouse To Be Given Away By Federal Government

WESTERLY, RI — The federal government wants to give away — for free — the Watch Hill Lighthouse.

The General Services Administration says the U.S. Coast Guard no longer needs the lighthouse property, even though its beacon and foghorn will remain as active aids to navigation. Along with the historic property in Westerly, Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown is on the giveaway list, as are two Great Lakes beacons in Ohio and Minnesota.

The lighthouses can't be picked up by an individual. Qualified applicants include government agencies, nonprofits, educational and community development agencies, or groups focused on parks, recreation, culture or historic preservation. Commercial activities will be prohibited at the site, unless allowed by the Secretary of the Interior.

The Watch Hill Lighthouse in Westerly (Patch/Mary Serreze)

And the deal comes with various catches. The property will be conveyed "as is" to a "selected steward." It must be maintained according to preservation guidelines, with historic covenants written into the deed. The original Fresnel lens, owned by the Coast Guard Historian, will remain on display on the ground level at the Watch Hill Museum, and the new property owner must craft a loan agreement with the U.S. government for that particular artifact.

The tower will keep its solar-powered, active and automated flashing light signal. There is an active foghorn that can be activated by mariners via a marin VHF-FM radio. The Coast Guard reserves its rights to access the property to maintain the site as an active aid to navigation.

The current tenant is the Watch Hill Lighthouse Keepers Association, and their lease expires on Sept. 30, 2029.

The Watch Hill Lighthouse features a three-story square granite block tower topped with a cast iron and glass lantern. The 4.5 acre property hosts a two-story 1935 brick keeper’s dwelling, an oil house built around 1885, and a garage workshop built in 1939.

The peninsula, accessible to tourists on foot, also boasts a unique view of pop star Taylor Swift’s seaside mansion:

Taylor Swift's House in Watch Hill. (Patch/Mary Serreze)

Groups must express interest within 60 days, and the National Park Service will review applications. The notice of availability was issued on May 7.