Greater New Haven CT Real Estate

If you're looking for a unique and antique treasure, it's time to visit The Historic Carousel at Lighthouse Point Park located on the east side of the New Haven Harbor in the community of Morris Cove.

Built in 1916 the carousel has 72 figures mounted on a 60 foot platform.  Decorating the carousel are original oil paintings of New Haven local scenery along with mermaids, trains, lighthouses, sailboats and beveled mirrors.

During the 1920's there were more than 10,000 such carousels in existence but today the Lighthouse Park Carousel is less than one of a hundred still in operation.

The highlight of the day for many years on a visit to Lighthouse Park was to ride the carousel.  Over the years hurricanes and deterioration from it's location on the water took its toll on the carousel and the pavilion causing the building to be boarded up and closed down in 1977.

A group of citizens was appointed by the Mayor of New Haven in 1980 to come up with ways to restore the carousel.  Through the dedication and commitment of many volunterrs who spent hours cleaning, painting and scraping along with an "Adopt "A Horse" prgoram that was developed to help pay for the restoration and funds allocated by the City of New Haven to rehabilitate the pavilion the carousel was brought back to life.  In 1983 the Lighthouse Point Carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The 5,000 square foot pavilion that is home to the carousel is available for rental and the perfect spot for weddings, banquets and private functions with its magnificent views of Long Island Sound and the New Haven Harbor.

Hours of operation during the summer season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) are:

Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Cost: 50 cents

There is a $10 parking fee for non-residents between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Private rentals are available and group reservations are accepted.

For more information call 203-946-8327.

Take a ride today and enjoy a little bit of history and fantasy on the Lighthouse Point Carousel.

The city of New Haven Connecticut is rich in history and features many areas and places thar are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

A stone's throw away from my backyard in the Morris Cove  neighborhood of New Haven is Lighthouse Park home to the historical Five Mile Point Lighthouse.

Marking the entrance to the New Haven Harbor is the Five Mile Point Lighthouse given its name for its distance from downtown New Haven.

The original lighthouse built in 1805 was a 30-foot octagonal shingled wooden tower with its light generated by eight lamps and thirteen inch reflectors.

From the beginning the light from the beacon was considered too dim and too low and was not protection for seamen who relied on the beacon to protect them from disastter and keep them away from the rocky shores.

In 1845 it was recommended that a new tower be built on the nearby Southwest Ledge.  Because of the cost involved and the location too far north on the shore a new lighthouse was built in 1847 on the same spot as the first. 

A two story brick dwelling was built next to the lighthouse that served as the keeper's home connected by a wooden passage.  The brick structure still stands today but the wooden passageway has long since disappeared.

On January 1, 1877 the first officical night for the lighthouse at Southwest ledge was the last for the Five Mile Point Lighthouse.

The city of New Haven purchased the land and the building of Five Mile Point in the late 1920's and in 1949 Lighthouse Point Park was opened to the public.

Five Mile Point Lighthouse has withstood the test of time through many storms including a hurricane in 1938.  Renovations to the interior and the exterior of the tower were completed in 1986,  Jn 1990 Five Mile Point Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today while the beacon from the lighthouse is dark, the tower stands tall along the shores of Five Mile Point and New Haven Harbor.