Montauk Point Lighthouse

Montauk Point Light

(2009)
Montauk Point Light Show map of New York Montauk Point Light Show map of the US
Location	Montauk Point, Suffolk County, New York
Coordinates	41°04′16″N 71°51′26″W / 41.07099°N 71.85709°W / 41.07099; -71.85709Coordinates: 41°04′16″N 71°51′26″W / 41.07099°N 71.85709°W / 41.07099; -71.85709
Year first lit	1797
Foundation	13 ft (4 m) deep and 9 ft (3 m) thick, Natural, Emplaced, built in 1796
Construction	Sandstone
Tower shape	Octagonal pyramidal
Markings / pattern	Tower painted white with a broad red band midway, lantern black
Height	110.5 ft (33.7 m) structure
Focal height	168 ft (51 m)
Original lens	8 whale oil lamps (1797), Fresnel lens
Current lens	VRB-25
Range	18 nm
Characteristic	Flashing White 5 seconds.
Fog signal	Horn: 1 2s in every 15s
ARLHS number	USA-512
USCG number	1-660
Montauk Point Lighthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Nearest city	East Hampton, New York
Area	0 acres (0 ha)
Built	1796
Architect	McComb, Jr., John
NRHP Reference #	69000142
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 07, 1969
Designated NHL	March 2, 2012
Heritage	national historic landmark of the USA, place listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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1-660

69000142

The Montauk Point Light is a lighthouse located adjacent to Montauk Point State Park, at the easternmost point of Long Island, in the hamlet of Montauk in the Town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York. The lighthouse was the first to be built within the state of New York, and was the first public works project of the new United States. It is the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States. Long listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 2012, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark for its significance to New York and international shipping in the early Federal period.

The lighthouse, which is located on Turtle Hill at the easternmost tip of Long Island, at 2000 Montauk Highway, is a privately run museum, and is not part of Montauk Point State Park. Entry to the lighthouse costs $11.00 for an adult, $8.00 for seniors and $4.00 per child.

Montauk Light was the first lighthouse in New York State, and is the fourth-oldest active lighthouse in the United States. The tower is 110'6" high. The current light, installed in July 2001, equivalent to approximately 290,000 candle power, flashes every 5 seconds and can be seen a distance of 17 nautical miles (31 km).

Construction on the lighthouse was authorized by the Second United States Congress, under President George Washington on April 12, 1792. Ezra L'Hommedieu, a prominent lawyer, member of the Continental Congress, and a man with scientific interests, consulted with Washington on its construction. He represented the New York City Chamber of Commerce on discussions related to the lighthouse. He made the case that New York City "was first among American ports in the volume of its foreign commerce. By 1797, the harbor was handling a third of the nation's trade with other countries." Due to prevailing winds in winter, shippers approaching from sea needed a lighthouse at the end of Long Island to guide them along the south side into New York harbor.