Dutch Harbor and the Dutch Island Light - July 28, 2020

View from the put-in

I didn't get to paddle yesterday, so I decided to head over to Jamestown today to paddle out to Dutch Island and the Dutch Island Light. 

Dutch Island is located on the West Passage of Narragansett Bay and took its name from the Dutch East India Company that established a trading post here around 1636. In 1654 English colonists purchased the island from the Narragansett Indians.

Dutch Island Light (c. 1857)

For many years, the island was fortified to protect the West Passage from invasion by sea. In the 1890’s the Army established Fort Greble here. Like Fort Weatherill on the East Passage, Fort Greble was active through World War II and was part of a series of heavily fortified artillery placements that protected Narragansett Bay including Fort Greene on Point Judith and Fort Adams in Newport.

The first lighthouse was completed on the southern tip of Dutch Island in 1826. The original tower was replaced with the current tower in 1857. The lighthouse remained in service until 1979 when it was replaced with a flashing buoy. It then fell into disrepair until 2007 when it was restored by the Dutch Island Lighthouse Society.

Looking west to the URI Bay Campus

Dutch Island is located about a mile from either the URI Bay Campus or Dutch Harbor, but the crossings couldn't be different. From the Bay Campus you cross the West Passage of Narragansett Bay with boat traffic and big rolling waves. I did that crossing last year with Tony on one of his sit-on-top sea kayaks, and it was an interesting trip.  From Dutch Harbor the crossing is more protected. 

I put in at Dutch Harbor, and paddled out into the calm water toward the Dutch Island. The waves increased as I approached the lighthouse on the southern tip of the island, so I decided not to paddle around the point or up the west side. I landed and took some pictures from shore before heading back.

Dutch Island Light

Links:
My Pictures
Dutch Island Lighthouse Society