[2] The Rock Harbor Lighthouse is a 50-foot-tall (15 m) cylindrical tower with a 16-foot-diameter (4.9 m) base,[3] constructed of randomly placed stone and brick, capped with an octagonal beacon[4] with a copper roof.

[4] The first keeper arrived at the station on October 24, 1856, and the lighthouse went into operation a short time later.

[3] The light had been manned for less than three years when it was determined that, due to the decrease in mining traffic, it was no longer required.

[3] During the American Civil War, copper mining increased once more, and in 1873 renovations began on the station, leading to the reactivation of the light on August 5, 1874.

[3] On October 4, 1879, the Rock Harbor lighthouse was deactivated for the second and last time, having been in service for a total of only eight years since its construction.