How many lighthouses are on Long Island?
Long Island has approximately 20 standing lighthouses and lighthouse structures when counting the historic and modern lights located in Nassau and Suffolk counties and on their nearby offshore islands. The total is sometimes described as “more than 20” because different sources may also include former lighthouse stations, destroyed towers, private beacon towers, and offshore lights near the boundaries of Long Island Sound.
In Short
There are about 20 existing lighthouses and lighthouse structures associated with Long Island. They extend from the western waters near the Great Neck Peninsula to Montauk, the East End, the North Shore, and South Shore. Some remain active aids to navigation, several have become museums or historic attractions, and others can only be viewed from shore or reached by boat.
Why the Lighthouse Count Varies
There is no single count that every historian and lighthouse organization uses. Some lists count only traditional lighthouse buildings that remain standing. Others include modern replacement lights, privately constructed towers, relocated lighthouse structures, offshore lights near Long Island Sound, and historic stations whose original towers have disappeared.
Using a practical definition that includes recognizable standing lighthouse structures and established lighthouse sites in Nassau and Suffolk counties produces a total of approximately 20. The National Park Service similarly states that Long Island has more than 20 lighthouses of different styles and sizes. The broader history includes additional stations that were replaced, relocated, destroyed, or reduced to foundations and modern navigational towers.
Why Long Island Has So Many Lighthouses
Long Island occupies a strategic position between the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, the approaches to New York Harbor, and numerous bays, harbors, inlets, reefs, and narrow channels. Ships approaching New York City, coastal cargo vessels, fishing boats, ferries, and recreational boaters have traveled these waters for centuries.
Lighthouses were placed where mariners needed warnings or guidance, including dangerous shoals near Sands Point, harbor entrances around Huntington and Port Jefferson Harbor, the narrow waters around Plum Island and Orient Point, and the exposed Atlantic coastline near Montauk and Fire Island National Seashore.
The Oldest Lighthouse on Long Island
The oldest lighthouse on Long Island is Montauk Point Lighthouse. President George Washington authorized its construction in 1792, and the light entered service in 1797. It is the oldest lighthouse in New York State and remains an active navigational aid at the easternmost end of the Hamptons.
Another exceptionally early lighthouse is Eatons Neck Lighthouse, first illuminated in 1799. It stands on the North Shore near Asharoken, Northport, and the entrance to Northport Bay. Together, Montauk Point and Eatons Neck reflect the importance of Long Island’s waters during the earliest years of the federal lighthouse system.
The Tallest Lighthouse on Long Island
Fire Island Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on Long Island and the tallest lighthouse in New York State. The present tower was completed in 1858 and rises 168 feet. It stands near Robert Moses State Park at the western end of Fire Island, where it historically helped Atlantic vessels identify the entrance toward New York Harbor.
Can You Visit Long Island’s Lighthouses?
Public access varies considerably. Montauk Point Lighthouse and Fire Island Lighthouse operate as major visitor attractions with museums and seasonal tower access. Horton Point Lighthouse in Southold also operates as a seasonal museum overlooking Long Island Sound.
Other lighthouses are visible from public parks, beaches, ferries, hiking trails, or sightseeing cruises. Long Beach Bar Lighthouse can be seen from Orient Beach State Park, while Orient Point, Plum Island, Little Gull Island, and Race Rock may be viewed during certain boat trips through the waters near Orient Point. Cedar Island Lighthouse can be approached by trail through Cedar Point County Park near Sag Harbor, although the tower itself is not generally open.
Several offshore lights remain inaccessible except during specially arranged tours. Private property, active Coast Guard facilities, strong currents, reefs, and the lack of public docks restrict access at many locations. Anyone planning a lighthouse trip should confirm current hours, tour schedules, ferry service, and access rules before traveling.
Long Island Lighthouses
The following table includes the principal standing lighthouses, lighthouse structures, and established modern lighthouse sites associated with Nassau and Suffolk counties. It does not count every small navigational beacon, buoy, range light, or lighthouse that has been completely destroyed.
| Lighthouse | Location | Established or Built | Status and Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stepping Stones Lighthouse | Long Island Sound near Kings Point and the Great Neck Peninsula | 1877 | Active offshore light; accessible only by boat and generally closed to the public |
| Sands Point Lighthouse | Sands Point | 1809 | Historic inactive lighthouse on private property; not open to the public |
| Execution Rocks Lighthouse | Long Island Sound north of Sands Point | 1850 | Active offshore light; occasional special tours may be offered |
| Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse | Historic tower relocated to Centre Island; active replacement light remains near Cold Spring Harbor | 1890 | Historic tower is privately owned; replacement navigational light is offshore |
| Huntington Harbor Lighthouse | Entrance to Lloyd Harbor and Huntington Harbor | 1912; station established 1857 | Active offshore lighthouse; limited seasonal guided tours |
| Eatons Neck Lighthouse | Eatons Neck near Asharoken and Northport | 1799 | Active lighthouse at a Coast Guard station; normally closed to the public |
| Old Field Point Lighthouse | Old Field, near Port Jefferson | 1868; station established 1825 | Active lighthouse; grounds may be viewed, but the tower is closed |
| Horton Point Lighthouse | Southold on the North Shore | 1857 | Active lighthouse with a seasonal nautical museum and tower access |
| Orient Point Lighthouse | Plum Gut off Orient Point | 1899 | Active privately owned offshore lighthouse; visible from ferries, cruises, and shoreline trails |
| Plum Island Lighthouse | Western end of Plum Island | 1870; station established 1827 | Historic inactive tower with a nearby active light; island access is restricted |
| Little Gull Island Lighthouse | Little Gull Island east of Plum Island | 1869; station established 1804 | Active offshore lighthouse; occasional guided boat access may be available |
| Race Rock Lighthouse | Race Rock near Fishers Island | 1879 | Active offshore lighthouse in dangerous waters; generally closed except for occasional tours |
| North Dumpling Lighthouse | North Dumpling Island near Fishers Island | 1871; station established 1849 | Active privately owned lighthouse; not open to the public |
| Long Beach Bar Lighthouse | Orient Harbor near Greenport and Orient Beach State Park | 1990 reconstruction of an 1871 lighthouse | Active offshore lighthouse; visible from shore and occasionally included on boat tours |
| Cedar Island Lighthouse | Cedar Point County Park near Sag Harbor | 1868; station established 1839 | Inactive historic lighthouse undergoing restoration; accessible by hiking trail, tower closed |
| Montauk Yacht Club Lighthouse | Star Island in Montauk | 1928 | Privately constructed lighthouse-style tower; inactive as a navigational light |
| Montauk Point Lighthouse | Montauk Point | 1797 | Active lighthouse, museum, National Historic Landmark, and seasonal visitor attraction |
| Shinnecock Lighthouse Site | Ponquogue Point near Shinnecock Bay and Hampton Bays | Station established 1858 | The original tower was destroyed in 1948; a modern skeletal navigational light remains active |
| Patchogue River Lighthouse | Entrance to the Patchogue River on Great South Bay | 2019 | Modern active lighthouse-style jetty light; visible from the Patchogue waterfront |
| Fire Island Lighthouse | Western Fire Island National Seashore near Robert Moses State Park | 1858; station established 1826 | Active lighthouse with a museum, visitor center, and tower tours |
Long Island’s lighthouse count depends on exactly what is included, but approximately 20 standing lighthouses, lighthouse structures, and established lighthouse sites remain across Nassau County and Suffolk County. From the historic towers at Montauk Point Lighthouse and Eatons Neck to the offshore lights of Long Island Sound and the Atlantic landmark at Fire Island Lighthouse, these structures preserve an important record of Long Island’s maritime history and its continuing relationship with the surrounding waters.
