Welcome to Grumps' favorite lighthouse, the Montauk Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in New York State and the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States.

 

 

Storms and fog contributed to shipwrecks from the earliest voyages to the New World and ship owners began lobbying for warning beacons as shipping increased in the colonial period. At first these beacons were bonfires, but later permanent lighthouses were erected. The first was the Motauk Point Lighthouse. In 1791 the Second U.S. Congress passed an act to erect a lighthouse on Motauk Point., which was authorized by President George Washington on 12 April 1792 and signed by Secretary of State Jefferson.

 

 

The bid was awarded to John McComb Jr. and construction began on 7 June 1796 and was completed on 5 November 1796. John McComb Jr. also built the original Cape Henry, VA and Eaton's Neck, NY. All three were built in the 1790's and remain standing today.

 

 

   The foundation is 13' deep and 9' thick. It is constructed of sandstone blocks from Connecticut. The walls are 6' thick at the base tapering to 3' thick at the top. The height of the tower is 110' 6". There are 137 iron steps to the top of the tower. The light flashes every 5 seconds and can be seen a distance of 19 nautical miles. The current light is equivalent to 2,500 candle power.

 

 

Montauk Floor Plan
1. ENTRANCE
2. PARLOR. In the Keepers Parlor on display are Montauk Point Lighthouse drawings and photographs from 1791 to 1939.
3. BEDROOM. This room served as the Head Keepers bedroom from 1860 to 1947. Today it is used to display four models of the Motauk Point Lighthouse and its terrain. This room has been dedicated in honor of Giorgina Reid who initiated the "Erosion Control Program" in 1970.
4. CENTRAL HALLWAY. The central hallway first built in 1860 and later enlarged connects to the Keepers Dwelling to the oil room and tower. On display is a one-of-a-kind museum exhibit, "Lighthouses Surrounding Long Island".
5. RADIO ROOM. This was the communication center for the lighthouse, where weather and radio beacon signals were transmitted. Also, emergency distress calls were received and rescue units were notified from here. A unique collection of lanterns and lenses are on display.
6. OIL ROOM. Once used to store cisterns of oil and supplies for the lighthouse, this room is the location of the only entrance and exit to the tower. On display is the original 3 1/2 Order Fresnel Bivalve Lens. The lens was placed into service in 1903 and removed on 3 February 1987.
7. THE TOWER. A spiral staircase climbs 86' to the watch deck where visitors may view the new light in the lantern room.
8 & 9. 1ST ASSISTANT KEEPERS BEDROOM. Once the bedrooms for the assistant keepers, the Montauk Historical Society has utilized this space as a gift shop for the museum.
10. EXIT.
SOUTH BASEMENT. This section of the dwelling served as a central kitchen and dining area for the keepers and their families. In 1892, an additional kitchen was built in the north basement for the two assistant keepers. The head keeper continued to use the south basement kitchen until it was transformed into a recreation room in 1943.

 

 

The 13 oil lamps shone for the first time in the spring of 1797, after difficulties shipping oil and lantern glass to the site.

 

 

During the 1800's several changes were made to the orignal construction. In 1838 a brick dwelling was added on to the 16' x 34' keeper's dwelling. In 1849 a chandelier with 15 lamps with 21" reflectors was hung in the lantern. In 1857 Montauk received a first-order fresnel lens. Extensive renovations were made in 1860. Fourteen feet had to be added to the tower to accomodate the new lantern with a service room beneath to maintain the revolving apparatus. An iron balcony and iron stairway were added at this time bringing Montauk's tower height to its current 110 feet. The double keeper's dwelling was also built during the renovation of 1860.

 

 

 

 In 1900 Montauk received it's brown band midway up the white tower and in 1903 the first-order lens was replaced with a 3.5 order bialve "clamshell" lens. During World War II the Coast Guard Artillery Fiertower was added to the site as part of the East Coast Defense Shield. In 1987 the bivalve lens was replaced with a revolving airport beacon.

 

 

Members of the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Coast Guard have been the residing keepers, tending the light for those at sea. Whaling ships, steamers, submarines, fishing and sailing vessels of all kinds have passed this tower on Turtle Hill, guided and reassured by its presence. Automated by the Coast Guard in 1987, the Montauk Point Lighthouse no longer needs a lightkeeper, however, a keeper of its history is essential. Under a program to provide for the continued maintenance and preservation of this historic lighthouse, the Coast Guard has transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the Montauk Historical Society.

 

 

 

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