Huntington Harbor Lighthouse

Huntington Harbor Lighthouse, also known as Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse, is an active offshore lighthouse at the entrance to Huntington Harbor and Lloyd Harbor in Huntington Bay on the North Shore of Long Island. The distinctive reinforced-concrete structure resembles a small castle and continues to serve as an aid to navigation for vessels traveling through the surrounding waters.

The current lighthouse was completed in 1912 after Congress appropriated funds for a new light station on a reef extending north from West Neck. It replaced an earlier lighthouse established on Lloyd’s Neck in 1857 and remains one of the most unusual and historically significant lighthouses in Suffolk County.

A Lighthouse Serving Two Harbors

The first Lloyd Harbor Light was built in 1857 to help vessels find shelter in Lloyd Harbor from the winds and waves of Long Island Sound. Because it provided little assistance to vessels entering Huntington Harbor, a new offshore lighthouse was planned for the reef between the two harbors.

The 1912 lighthouse was strategically positioned to mark dangerous rocks and guide boat traffic approaching both Huntington Harbor and Lloyd Harbor. Its location also placed it along important boating routes between Huntington, Lloyd Neck, Centerport Harbor and the wider waters of Huntington Bay.

A Castle-Like Reinforced-Concrete Lighthouse

Huntington Harbor Lighthouse is unusual because both its foundation and tower were constructed from reinforced concrete. The foundation was built on land, floated to the reef and sunk into position before the lighthouse was completed.

The square structure was designed in the Venetian Renaissance, or Beaux-Arts, style. Its crenellated parapet, compact keeper’s quarters and castle-like appearance distinguish it from the taller stone and brick towers found at other Long Island lighthouses.

Keepers and Automation

The lighthouse was staffed by the United States Lighthouse Service from 1912 until 1939. Responsibility then passed to the United States Coast Guard, whose personnel maintained the light, fog signal and structure.

An electric cable was installed in 1947, and the station was automated in 1948. The lighthouse continued operating without a resident keeper, although the structure gradually deteriorated after the living quarters were no longer occupied.

The original fifth-order Fresnel lens was removed in 1967. The lighthouse now uses a modern 300-millimeter lens, while the station’s historic fog bell remains on the lantern deck.

Preservation and Restoration

By the early 1980s, the Coast Guard considered the lighthouse unsafe and too expensive to repair. A proposal was made to demolish the structure and replace it with a steel tower.

Local residents formed Save Huntington’s Lighthouse in 1985 to prevent the demolition. The organization later became the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society and became the first private group in the country to take over and restore an offshore lighthouse.

The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 under the name Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse. Extensive restoration work, including repairs to the foundation and surrounding protective stone, helped stabilize the building and preserve it for continued public interpretation.

After a major renovation project, the lighthouse reopened to visitors in 2018. The preservation society continues to raise money for masonry repairs, windows, maintenance and improvements to public access.

Can the Public Visit Huntington Harbor Lighthouse?

Unlike many offshore lighthouses, Huntington Harbor Lighthouse is open to the public during scheduled tours and special events. Guided tours generally leave from Gold Star Battalion Beach on West Shore Road in Huntington and include a short boat ride to the lighthouse.

Tour schedules, reservations, departure times and access requirements may change. Visitors should check with the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society before making plans. The lighthouse may also be viewed from nearby beaches, shoreline locations and boats traveling through Huntington Bay, although mariners must remain alert for rocks, shoals, strong currents and restricted areas.

Huntington Harbor and the North Shore

Huntington Harbor Lighthouse is closely connected to the waterfront communities surrounding Huntington Harbor and the North Shore. The area includes marinas, yacht clubs, beaches, historic estates and working waterfronts that reflect Long Island’s long relationship with boating and maritime commerce.

Visitors exploring the area can also discover the village of Huntington, Centerport Harbor, Northport Harbor and other destinations along the North Shore. The nearby Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse provides another important connection to the maritime history of Huntington Bay.

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Huntington Harbor Lighthouse

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Key Facts & Details

Feature	Details
Official historic name	Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse
Common name	Huntington Harbor Lighthouse
Type	Active offshore lighthouse and navigational aid
Location	Huntington Bay at the entrance to Huntington Harbor and Lloyd Harbor
Nearby community	Huntington
County	Suffolk County
Waterway	Long Island Sound
Original lighthouse	Established on Lloyd’s Neck in 1857
Current lighthouse completed	1912
Congressional appropriation	$40,000 approved on March 7, 1907
Architectural style	Venetian Renaissance and Beaux-Arts
Construction	Reinforced concrete tower and foundation
Tower height	Approximately 42 feet
Original lens	Fifth-order Fresnel lens
Automation	1948
Current light	Modern 300-millimeter lens
Keeper service	United States Lighthouse Service, 1912–1939; United States Coast Guard thereafter
Historic designation	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 as Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse
Preservation organization	Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Public access	Scheduled public tours and special events; reservations may be required
Tour departure point	Gold Star Battalion Beach on West Shore Road in Huntington
Coordinates	40.91069, -73.43130
Long Island Lighthouses	How many lighthouses are on Long Island?

Huntington Harbor Lighthouse remains an active navigational landmark and one of the most distinctive historic structures on the North Shore of Long Island. Its castle-like Beaux-Arts design, unusual reinforced-concrete construction and position between Huntington Harbor and Lloyd Harbor make it unlike any other lighthouse in the region.

Saved from demolition by local residents and restored through decades of volunteer work, the lighthouse is also one of Long Island’s most accessible offshore historic sites. Visitors who take a scheduled tour can experience the structure firsthand while learning about the keepers, mariners and preservationists who kept Huntington Harbor Lighthouse shining.