In 1855 an iron spindle was erected to protect sailors from these dangerous underwater ledges.

On February 24, 1900, the Allan Line steamship Californian (formerly named the State of California) ran aground on the ledge while en route from Portland to Glasgow, Scotland via Halifax, Nova Scotia.

As a result of that accident, the United States Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse.

[3] In July 2010, Ram Island Ledge Light was put up for sale to the general public.

[4] The property had initially been made available at no charge to other government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, but no interest was shown, so bids were opened to the general public.