The rising sun illuminates the breaking waves, wet rocks and the distant historic lighthouse. Located at the easternmost tip of Long Island in the hamlet of Montauk, the lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington and opened in 1796. At the time, it was 6 hours away by horse and buggy from civilization, and is currently the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States.
The octagonal 80 ft. tower was made of Connecticut Sandstone, brought to the site by ship. The brick six-room keepers house was built in 1837 and remains to this day at the bottom hill west of the tower. In 1860, the keepers house was renovated to include a gift shop, and the tower was raised by 30 ft. to accommodate a new light which increased its line-of-sight.
Numerous shipwrecks on the rocks nearby occurred over the years, with some seaman rescued by the keeper and his family. Although the lighthouse structure has resisted the elements, the bank below the tower has been subject to erosion by wind and waves. Since the 1960’s, measures have been taken to stop the erosion, including a border of large stones placed around the base of the point to lessen the impact of the pounding surf.
The rising sun illuminates the breaking waves, wet rocks and the distant historic lighthouse. Located at the easternmost tip of Long Island in the hamlet of Montauk, the lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington and opened in 1796. At the time, it was 6 hours away by horse and buggy from civilization, and is currently the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States.
The octagonal 80 ft. tower was made of Connecticut Sandstone, brought to the site by ship. The brick six-room keepers house was built in 1837 and remains to this day at the bottom hill west of the tower. In 1860, the keepers house was renovated to include a gift shop, and the tower was raised by 30 ft. to accommodate a new light which increased its line-of-sight.
Numerous shipwrecks on the rocks nearby occurred over the years, with some seaman rescued by the keeper and his family. Although the lighthouse structure has resisted the elements, the bank below the tower has been subject to erosion by wind and waves. Since the 1960’s, measures have been taken to stop the erosion, including a border of large stones placed around the base of the point to lessen the impact of the pounding surf.