Photography by Venera Alexandrova
Greens Ledge Lighthouse is entering a new era, transitioning from a historic restoration project to a vibrant educational hub. The revitalization began in 2016, when the Pettee family of Rowayton purchased the lighthouse and founded the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society (GLLPS) to save the historic structure.
In 2022, after a comprehensive $2.2 million renovation, the 1902 landmark opened to the public for the first time in its 121-year history.
While the physical restoration of the lighthouse is an ongoing process—currently the focus is on replacing the 25 custom-curved glass panes in the Lantern Room—the educational programming is growing rapidly. The lower level has been transformed into the Tombros Research and Education Center, named in honor of Peter and Ann Tombros, early supporters of both the restoration and the lighthouse’s educational mission.
Kindred Spirits
A major milestone was reached last summer with the inaugural visit of high school students from the SoundWaters Summer Research Intensive Program. The partnership began when GLLPS board members Chris and Terri Walker connected with the organization, finding them to be kindred spirits. “We found in SoundWaters an incredibly focused, unbureaucratic and enthusiastic organization that welcomed our overture,” says Tim Pettee, president of GLLPS. “I think it’s correct to say that Greens Ledge and SoundWaters are two like-minded institutions in terms of education, conservation and preservation in and on Long Island Sound.”
The curriculum at the lighthouse offers a unique blend of marine biology and local history. While the SoundWaters staff leads activities such as water quality monitoring and collecting bottom samples, the Green’s Ledge keepers provide a powerful backdrop. Students witness the extensive restoration efforts and learn about the history of the Long Island Sound. They also gain an understanding of off-the-grid living experienced by early keepers—though today the lighthouse is powered by a significant solar array, makes its own drinking water through a reverse-osmosis unit and is even outfitted with Starlink internet service.
Students from SoundWaters Summer Research Intensive Program at Greens Ledge.
Looking to the Future
Green’s Ledge hopes to expand its educational outreach by partnering with other local schools and organizations. A key part of this expansion is the acquisition of a new boat—a half-million-dollar Coast Guard-inspected Munson vessel with beach landing capabilities. This boat, with a capacity of 20 to 24 people, will be instrumental in transporting students and visitors from various locations to the lighthouse.
The boat has been a long-term priority for GLLPS. As board VP Alex Pettee noted in our May/June 2023 feature on the lighthouse’s restoration: “Having a larger boat will open up a lot of new opportunities. We look forward to hosting more schools, STEM Clubs and other groups, so they can experience Greens Ledge and learn about the lighthouse.” That dream is becoming a reality, with the vessel expected to be delivered in the spring.
To support its ambitious plans, the organization is actively pursuing education grants. A $50,000 education-specific grant from a local family has provided a strong start, with the goal of funding educational trips, which are estimated to cost about $1,000 per boatload of students.
Greens Ledge and SoundWaters are working together to install remote sensors at the lighthouse. This equipment will monitor water quality and wave height, providing marine science students with valuable real-time data. Greens Ledge also recently partnered with Ship 6, a local maritime leadership program for teens, to give its crew more experience in a marine environment.
The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation, with the U.S. Coast Guard maintaining the LED beacon and foghorn. However, with the physical restoration nearing completion and the educational programs gaining momentum, Green’s Ledge is poised to fulfill a new role: serving as an invaluable classroom for local students and a living laboratory for the next generation of marine scientists and conservationists.
For more on Greens Ledge Lighthouse and how you can support the organization, visit savegreensledge.org.