The Block Island Virtual

 Library

1. The Block Island Homepage

          http://www.blockisland.com

This is an extensive website about Block Island, including information about Island history, environmental concerns and tourist information. There are links to a variety of services, including accommodations, dining, professional services, wedding planning and transportation. A page listing religious services is included. The Block Island Homepage offers links to the Block Island Tourism Council and the Town of New Shoreham. While this website offers a lot of useful information, some of the links did not function and others connected to outdated pages. Offshore Services established and maintains this website.

2. The Block Island Chamber of Commerce

        http://www.blockislandchamber.com

Whether you’re visiting Block Island for a day, a week, a month or living on the island year round, the Block Island Chamber of Commerce website contains information you can use. The homepage is arranged as a directory. Your questions about where to stay, where to eat, what to do (a perennial question asked of island residents), how to get around the island once you've arrived and, of course how to get to the island in the first place are answered. A calendar of events and a brief introduction to the island (About Block Island) are also included. The website includes numerous links to information you may need while on the island. If you still have questions, contact the Chamber by phone at (401) 466-2982 or write to Box D, Block Island RI 02807. The Chamber’s e-mail address is info@blockislandchamber.com.

3. Block Island Southeast Light

         http://lighthouse.cc/blockisoutheast/index.html

The United States Coast Guard built the Southeast lighthouse in 1875. It was the second lighthouse on the island. The first, North light was built in 1867. Southeast Light served as an aid to navigation until 1990, when the Coast Guard deactivated the lifesaving station. An automated beam was built to replace the lighthouse. The Light tower is 52 feet high, the highest light in New England. The light which shines from the tower, a first order fresnel lens, produces a unique green beam; the accompanying fog horn sounds every five seconds.

Over time the eroding cliffs endangered the lighthouse. Gerald Abbott established the Block Island Southeast Light Foundation to raise the funds needed to move the lighthouse away from the bluff. The move was completed and the light re-lighted in 1994. The Block Island Southeast Lighthouse Foundation offers tours of the tour; a gift shop is also available. The lighthouse serves as a conservation and education center.

The Block Island Southeast Light website includes information on getting to the island, the history of the lighthouse, pictures and postcard images of Southeast light and a bibliography. A hyperlink to the Maritime Heritage program of the National Park Service is also available.

4. North Light

          http://lighthouse.cc/blockinorth/history.html

North Light is the oldest lighthouse on Block Island. Its history is sure to interest anyone intrigued by the seashore and lighthouse fans from New England and beyond. The first lighthouse built on Block Island was constructed on the north end of the island at  Sandy Point in 1829.. The need for the light was made evident by the 59 shipwrecks off Sandy Point between 1819 and 1839. The danger of this portion of the Block Island shoreline was further demonstrated by the need to rebuild North Light four times between 1829 and 1867. In 1956 the current North Lighthouses was constructed of granite with an iron tower. At this time the light was automated..

 Between 1829 and 1956 the North light was tended by Coast Guard personnel.  In 1973, the coast Guard deactivated North Light and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the lighthouse and surrounding land, preserving the area as a wildlife refuge. In 1984 the town of New Shoreham (Block Island) purchased the lighthouse and surrounding acreage. In 1989 the town began the North Light Restoration and opened the North Light Interpretive Center to the public.

The center is open to the public daily from 10:00 until 4:00 from June 20 through mid-September; weekend hours are available from late June through Columbus Day. See the following websites for more information.

The lighthouse has been nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Block Island North Light History http://lighthouse.cc/blockinorth/history.tml

The North Light Fund http://www.ctol.net/~rdaines/nlfund.html

http://www.lighthouse.cc/blockinorth/history.html

http://www.lighthouse.cc/blockinorth/index.html

    (Note: These pages request a password, but will open when you close the dialogue box by clicking the X 2 or 3 times; the website is worth     seeing.)

5. The Block Island School http://www.bi.k12.ri.us