Built in 1829, the first lighthouse, made of stone, was of such poor construction that the walls were severely cracked a decade later.

The Town of Greenwich acquired the property in 1973 and had full-time caretakers on the site until the lighthouse became too dilapidated in 2003.

In 2010, a memorial plaque was installed to "honor the 23 people who lived in Greenwich, or had a connection to the town", who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In 1991, the Great Captain Island Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1829, the federal government purchased 3.5 acres of land on the southeast part of Great Captain Island from Samuel Lyons, prior to the site being selected for a lighthouse.

It suffered a setback as one of the fundraiser's original members, Bennett Fisher, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

[7] In the 1990s, a nonprofit group called Return the Light was formed and raised $305,000 for restoration work – most of it donated in the memory of Bennett Fisher.

[7] Carl White notes that "the non-profit was able to raise $305,000, and with Federal Funds, $1.13 million was obtained for the project".

Tom Baptist, executive director of Audubon Connecticut and a Greenwich resident, said he supports the renovation work together with measures to protect the birds.