Castle Hill Lighthouse, Newport, RI

Newport, Rhode Island is a city rich in history and charm. Castle Hill Lighthouse was built on the western shore of the city in 1890 to aid ships navigating Narragansett Bay, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. As a low-lying island city, Newport and its buildings are extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels. If nothing is done to assuage the effects of climate change, centuries of history may be lost.  

This digital installation was made by Elissa Pierce, a fourth-year Environmental  Science major at Northeastern University and Rising Waters Intern who would like to pursue a career in environmental policy. She likes to bake, decorate cakes, and go to the gym. The measurements for the digital rendering of tide lines on the Castle Hill Lighthouse are below.

Tower Height: 34'

2030 Sea Levels: 6.9’ – 3.85’ = 3.05’ = 3’ 0.6” 

2050 Sea Levels: 8.7’ – 3.85’ = 4.85’ = 4’ 10.2” 

2070 Sea Levels: 11.3’ – 3.85’ = 7.45’ = 7’ 5.4”