Musselbed Shoals is a dangerous spot for navigation through the channel from Narragansett Bay to Mount Hope Bay.  It is evan noted  on colonial era maps.  In 1871 a beacon was placed there followed by a new light in 1873.  This structure was damaged by ice floes.  A new structure with built with more protection, but ice floes in 1919 -1920 damaged this one as well.  The light was abandoned in 1938 and the lighthouse was severely damaged by the Hurricane of 1938.  Later the building was torn down and an automatic light was installed that remains today.

Musselbed Shoal Lighthouse operated until 1938 when it was replaced by an automatic light