ROCK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE, St. Lawrence Seaway Trail, St. Lawrence River, Fisher’s Landing, NY. The first Rock Island Lighthouse was built in 1847 to mark one of the many hazards facing vessels sailing up and down the St. Lawrence River. In 1882, the current 40' tower, equipped with a 6th-order Fresnel lens, replaced the old structure. The original tower was built in the center of the island and could be difficult to see. The loss of two ships on a nearby shoal spurred the construction of the new tower. The lantern room of the original tower was used on the new tower.

Rock Island is one of a small number of lighthouses which retains all of its original structures. The smokehouse was built in 1847; the keeper’s house dates to 1882; the generator house was built in 1900; the boathouse in 1920.

http://rockislandlighthouse.org/transcript-wpbs.html