The supervising architect was James Renwick Jr., who also designed several other buildings on the island for the Charities and Correction Board as well as more famous works such as St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The legends indicate that an inmate of the asylum built a fort to defend the island against a British invasion that he feared.

The legend indicates that the builder was bribed with bogus money to demolish the fort for the construction of the lighthouse.

[3] A second restoration project commenced in 2021 which changed the design of the lantern and lamp bell on the roof as well as a working decorative lens.

It is constructed of gray gneiss, rough ashlar that was quarried on the island by inmates from the penitentiary.

At the top of the shaft there is a band of ornamented corbels below the gallery, which is surrounded by an iron railing.