CT History - Avery Point Light (Groton) Traditional Cache

A quick grab near a famous Connecticut Lighthouse. The tower can be reached easily by a short walk from the campus parking. Leashed dogs are permitted.

First to Find gets a free magnetic nano w/log book!

Built in 1943 it is the only lighthouse built as a memorial to all other lighthouses and is the last built in the state of Connecticut. The lighthouse operated until 1967 when the Coast Guard left the site and the property was once again in the hands of the state.

Since the United States Coast Guard relinquished the lighthouse to the University of Connecticut, there had been a complete lack of maintenance and upkeep to the structure. In 1997, the University of Connecticut officials called the tower a safety hazard and it tagged for demolition due to its deteriorating condition and the materials used to originally construct it.

A local non-profit group calling itself the Avery Point Lighthouse Society (APLS) was established and launched an effort to restore the tower. APLS worked diligently to raise money to save, restore and relight this historic structure. As part of their fundraising effort APLS sold "Dedication/Memorial" bricks, which have become a permanent part of the landscaped walkways around the lighthouse. The Groton SUBVETS Base and WWII Submarine Veterans were perhaps the most enthusiastic sponsors of the lighthouse memorial brick program as Avery Point Light was influential in guiding submarines as they traveled from Long Island Sound to the Groton/ New London Navy Submarine Base. One brick was placed for every submarine that was lost at sea, and many others were purchased as memorials to submarines they once served on and/or for fellow shipmates who have since departed.

After 3 years of restoration and nearly 40 years of being dormant, the tower was relit in a gala ceremony on October 15th, 2006.