Castle Hill at the westernmost point of Newport, was the site of a watchtower built in 1740. It was an obvious site for a light and fog signal to aid mariners heading to Newport Harbor and up Narragansett Bay's East Passage toward Providence. 

Located on property formerly belonging to the famous naturalist, oceanographer, and zoologist Alexander Agassiz of Harvard University,  Agassiz sold land to the United States Government for the lighthouse for $1.00.

The 34-foot tall granite lighthouse was first lighted in May 1890, with a fifth order Fresnel lens exhibiting a flashing red light visible for 10 nautical miles.  It is an active navigation aid for the United States Coast Guard and boaters entering the East Passage between Jamestown, Rhode Island on Conanicut Island, and Newport, Rhode Island on Aquidneck Island.

City:  Newport
State: Rhode Island