The Point Judith property was purchased in 1809 for the sum of $300. It often has been referred to as the "Cape Hatteras of New England." The treacherous waters and rocky shoreline was the scene of many shipwrecks in the 19th century. In an effort to protect mariners, William Ellery, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, established Point Judith Light in 1810.

The Lighthouse was built of rough stone and was 35 feet high. The original lighthouse was destroyed in the hurricane of September 1815 rebuilt in 1816. To further protect shipping, a life saving station was established in July 1875. It is the oldest station, on a continuous location, in the Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England area of operation. It was one of the five original life-saving stations that protected shipping on the southern shores surrounding Rhode Island.

In September 1933, the station was gutted by fire and replaced with the present building in 1937. The present light was built in 1857. The tower is octagonal with the upper half painted brown and the lower half painted white. It\'s 51 feet above ground and 65 feet above sea level and has a visibility of 16 nautical miles on a clear day. Point Judith was very active during World War II and just two days prior to the end of the war (in Europe) assisted in the rescue of the steam collier Black Point, which was torpedoed four miles off the point.