The Colchester Reef Lighthouse was built in 1870-71 when the lumber transportation industry was booming on Lake Champlain. The Lighthouse Board had recommended the construction of a lighthouse on the Colchester Reef to mark a group of three dangerous shoals. The lighthouse served as the home to 11 successive lighthouse keepers and their families over the course of 62 years.  It eventually decomisioned, and it was moved to Shelburne Museum in 1952, where it resides to this day.