Tour the Historic Lighthouses in Norwalk

The Norwalk Seaport Association and the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society have teamed up to offer a five-hour exclusive cruise that includes an hour-and-a-half stop at both Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the recently opened Greens Ledge Lighthouse. The boat will depart the Seaport's new dock at 70 Water Street at 10 a.m. and return at 3 p.m. This tour is open to the public and offers the rare opportunity to visit two architecturally unique lighthouses that have guided ships with welcoming beacons through Norwalk Harbor for hundreds of years.

This fascinating cruise begins as the Seaport's vessel wends its way through Norwalk Harbor passing a necklace of habited and uninhabited islands, to its first stop, Greens Ledge Lighthouse. This recently refurbished Spark Plug Lighthouse sits on a reef named after Pirate Green, who sailed with the infamous Captain Kidd. Local legend has it that Pirate Green was tied in chains to Greens Ledge as a warning to deter the dastardly deeds of marauding buccaneers.

Greens Ledge, on the National Register, is only one of 33 remaining spark plug lighthouses in existence in the United States. Named sparkplug because of their unique shape and water-tight structure made of metal, Greens Ledge construction was completed in 1902, for $60,000 ($2.5 million in 2024 dollars) to help mariners through the rocky shoals at the west entrance of Norwalk Harbor. Today its 90-foot tower remains an active aid to navigation with its automated light and foghorn maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. This lighthouse, whose Rip Rap was added from the Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center excavation in 1932 is thought to be the inspiration for the legendary “Green Light” in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. It was occupied by lightkeepers for 70 years and is owned by a non-profit that restored it for 2.5 million in 2023.

Visitors on this cruise will be able to tour both the inside of the Lighthouse as well as the outside pad and lower decks. The indoor tour includes the Trombos Research Center, the Pettee Family Gallery, the Bunkroom, Kleeman Keeper Quarters, the Maclean Watch Room, DeChellis Lookout, and the Beacon Room with its automated light. Afterward, passengers can relax at the picnic tables and in Adirondack chairs located on the deck.

Located at the southern end of the outer harbor, Sheffield Island Lighthouse, on the National Register, is the final stop on this maritime excursion. Constructed in the Victorian style in 1868 of limestone masonry, Sheffield is a classic lighthouse replete with a distinctive metal octagonal light tower in the gable that offers views of the Manhattan skyline.

This lighthouse has a fascinating history of industrious lighthouse keepers before being decommissioned in 1902 by the opening of Greens Ledge. After it closed, the island became a haven for rumrunners during prohibition, a sanctuary for mothers and children during the cholera epidemic, and the location for a country club, before the Norwalk Seaport Association saved it in 1978. Visitors can climb the tower that affords splendid views and tour the many rooms of the lighthouse that are being reinterpreted to the way lightkeepers would have lived here in the 19th century. Afterward, there will be enough time to picnic in the wooden pavilion, walk along the beach, use the telescope, and explore the adjacent Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, a birding hot spot.

It is suggested that you pack a picnic lunch and beverages for this excursion in coolers or carry-ons that can fit beneath the seats of the vessel (18-20 inches). It is best to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. If the trip is canceled due to weather conditions, you will be notified by email. For safety reasons, wear closed-toe shoes and pack plenty of sunscreen, and don't forget to bring your sense of fun and adventure to this extraordinary experience.