North Dumpling Lighthouse

North Dumpling Lighthouse stands on North Dumpling Island in Long Island Sound, approximately one mile north of Fishers Island and 1.5 miles south of Groton Long Point, Connecticut. Although the island is geographically close to Connecticut, North Dumpling Island is part of the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York.

The lighthouse station was established in 1849 to guide vessels through Fishers Island Sound and the surrounding shoals. The present tower was built in 1871 and served as an active navigational aid until 1959, when the light was automated and moved to a nearby skeleton tower.

Establishing the Lighthouse Station

North Dumpling Island was once part of the lands associated with the Winthrop family, which acquired Fishers Island and surrounding islets in the seventeenth century. The island was sold to the federal government in 1847 for $600 to provide a site for a lighthouse.

Congress later appropriated $5,000 for construction. The original station consisted of a brick keeper’s dwelling with an attached 25-foot tower. The first light used seven lamps set in reflectors and featured red shades that produced a distinctive navigational signal. A sixth-order Fresnel lens was installed in 1855.

The 1871 Reconstruction

By the late 1860s, the original structure had deteriorated significantly. Congress appropriated $15,000 in 1870 to rebuild the station, and the work was completed in 1871. The improvements included a new Mansard roof on the keeper’s dwelling and a taller 29-foot octagonal tower with a lantern placed above the house.

A barn was also constructed, and the shoreline around the keeper’s boat basin was reinforced with granite blocks. In 1892, a fifth-order Fresnel lens replaced the earlier lens. The lighthouse’s characteristic was later changed to a fixed white light with a red sector.

Keepers, Fog Bells and Island Life

North Dumpling Lighthouse was operated by resident keepers who maintained the light, buildings, fog bell and surrounding grounds. A private fog bell had been installed by the New York and Stonington Steamboat Line, but the federal government later installed its own fog bell after Congress appropriated funding for the equipment.

The isolated station was exposed to fog, storms, winter ice and strong currents. During Prohibition, the surrounding islands and beaches were also associated with the transfer of illegally imported liquor. One lighthouse keeper was accused of using extra lights as signals for smugglers, although no evidence ultimately connected him to those activities.

Deactivation and Private Ownership

In 1959, the Coast Guard moved the navigational light from the historic lighthouse to an automated skeleton tower nearby. The lighthouse and grounds were then sold to private ownership. The property later changed hands several times and was substantially remodeled, including an expansion of the keeper’s dwelling.

In the late 1970s, owner David Levitt persuaded the Coast Guard to return the light to the historic tower and remove the skeleton tower. The island was purchased in 1986 by inventor Dean Kamen, who became known for referring to the property as the “North Dumpling Republic.” The private island has incorporated alternative energy systems and other distinctive personal features.

Can the Public Visit North Dumpling Lighthouse?

North Dumpling Lighthouse is privately owned, and the island, grounds, keeper’s dwelling and tower are closed to ordinary public access. Visitors should not attempt to land on the island without permission from the owner.

The lighthouse is best viewed from the water or from an authorized boat excursion. The East End Seaport Museum and the Cross Sound Ferry offer opportunities to view historic lighthouses in the surrounding waters, although routes and schedules may vary.

North Dumpling Island and Fishers Island Sound

North Dumpling Lighthouse is part of a remarkable collection of historic navigation landmarks surrounding the eastern end of Long Island Sound. Nearby lights include Little Gull Island Lighthouse, Race Rock Lighthouse and Plum Island Lighthouse.

Its remote setting also connects the lighthouse with the maritime history of Fishers Island, the North Fork and the coastal communities of eastern Suffolk County. Although it is not a public attraction, North Dumpling Lighthouse remains a distinctive landmark for boaters traveling through Fishers Island Sound.

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North Dumpling Lighthouse

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Key Facts & Details

Feature	Details
Official name	North Dumpling Light
Common name	North Dumpling Lighthouse
Type	Historic lighthouse and former navigational aid
Location	North Dumpling Island in Fishers Island Sound
Nearby island	Fishers Island
County	Suffolk County
Town	Southold
Waterway	Fishers Island Sound and Long Island Sound
Station established	1849
Original tower	25-foot tower attached to a brick keeper’s dwelling
Current tower first lit	1871
Construction materials	Brick and wood shingles on wood-piling and stone foundations
Tower shape	Octagonal
Tower height	Approximately 29 feet
Original lens	Sixth-order Fresnel lens installed in 1855
Later lens	Fifth-order Fresnel lens installed in 1892
Light characteristic	Fixed white light with a red sector
Automated	1959
Deactivated	1959
Current status	Historic lighthouse; no longer an active Coast Guard navigational station
Current ownership	Privately owned
Public access	Closed to ordinary public access; permission is required to land
Best viewing method	From a boat or authorized excursion
Coordinates	41.287920, -72.019250
Official historical source	U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office
Long Island Lighthouses	How many lighthouses are on Long Island?

North Dumpling Lighthouse remains one of the most unusual historic landmarks in the waters surrounding Long Island. Established in 1849 and rebuilt in 1871, the lighthouse guided vessels through Fishers Island Sound and the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound for more than a century. Although North Dumpling Island is privately owned and closed to ordinary visitors, the lighthouse can be viewed from authorized boat excursions near Fishers Island. Its secluded setting, colorful ownership history and connection to the surrounding network of lighthouses make it a distinctive part of Suffolk County’s maritime heritage.