 The United States Congress appropriated funds for the tower 's replacement by 1832 . On July 7 , 1838 , Congress appropriated an additional $ 2 @,@ 500 @.@ 00 to add to the other $ 5 @,@ 000 @.@ 00 appropriated for the new lighthouse . The contract for the lighthouse was awarded to Jonathan Scranton , Volney Pierce , and John Wilcox of Madison , Connecticut , on August 18 , 1838 . A new 65 @-@ foot ( 20 m ) octagonal brownstone tower was constructed in 1838 and lit in 1839 . The walls of the base of the light are 5 feet ( 1 @.@ 5 m ) thick , tapering to 2 feet ( 0 @.@ 61 m ) at the top . The lighthouse is painted white and has six windows , all facing the water . The lighthouse has been described as being " similar to the masonry towers built earlier , ( New London Harbor Light , New Haven Harbor ( Five Mile Point ) Light , and Faulkner 's Island Light ) , but Lynde Point is considered to represent the finest work of the three " . The wooden staircase was likely replaced in an 1868 renovation of the light . In 1886 , the Saybrook Breakwater Light was built . Lynde Point then became commonly known as the " Saybrook Inner Light " and Saybrook Breakwater became known as the " Saybrook Outer Light " . 
