The Montauk Point Lighthouse Station was authorized by President George Washington in 1792 and established in 1796. This is the original tower built from sandstone, although it was rebuilt and raised to its present height in 1860. The original keepers house was converted into a storage building when the existing keepers house was added, also in 1860. Montauk Point Lighthouse is the first lighthouse built in New York State, the first lighthouse built by the United States Government following the Revolutionary War, and is the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States.

Montauk Point Lighthouse continues to be an active aid to navigation maintained by the Montauk Historical Society. The keepers house has been turned into a museum that includes in its exhibits the second order bivalve Fresnel Lens that used to reside in the the lantern room. The light is now provided by a modern optic that is visible for 19 nautical miles. The white 110 foot tall lighthouse with a brown band daymark continues to give a white flash every 5 seconds to guide mariners around the eastern end of Long Island where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Long Island Sound

July 2005 Issue, Montauk Pt. Lighthouse: George Washington's Lighthouse By Michael Salvarezza. This article gives a historical overview of the Montauk Point Lighthouse from its construction, its role in the War of 1812's British blockade of Long Island Sound, the World War II search for German U Boats, to winning the battle with erosion that threatened to destroy the lighthouse. Please go to the Lighthouse Digest Magazine Archives for the full article. Lighthouse Digest magazine not only keeps the history of our lighthouses alive both in print and on line, but it is the best single source to keep current on all aspects of lighthouse preservation, news and events

The Montauk Point Lighthouse is located on Turtle Hill at the easternmost tip of Long Island. The lighthouse is easily reached by car.
Directions: Take NY State Route 27 eastbound to its end at Montauk Point State Park. The road splits into a one way circle, go past the lighthouse and turn left into the parking lot in the middle of the circle. The lighthouse is maintained by the Montauk Historical Society which provides a Visitor center - Gift shop at the entrance to the lighthouse grounds. There is an admission fee that covers use of the grounds, an opportunity to climb the tower to the lantern room and tour the lighthouse museum on the first floor of the keepers house.

Visit the Montauk Historical Society's Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum & Gift Shop for information on Montauk Point Lighthouse Park hours and facilities.

For more photographs and history of the Montauk Point Lighthouse, you can visit the:

United States Coast Guard Historians' Official Web Site

Lighthouse Explorer Database

Montauk Chamber of Commerce "Where Long Island Begins" - For other attractions and information when visiting the Montauk Point Lighthouse