Eatons Neck Lighthouse

Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse is a historic active lighthouse at the northern tip of Eaton’s Neck in Suffolk County. Standing above the entrance to Huntington Bay and Long Island Sound, the lighthouse has guided vessels along the North Shore of Long Island since 1799.

Built during the administration of President John Adams, Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse is the second-oldest lighthouse on Long Island and one of only two surviving eighteenth-century lighthouses in New York State. The station remains an operational aid to navigation and is located within an active United States Coast Guard facility.

Construction of the Lighthouse

Congress appropriated $13,250 for the construction of a lighthouse at Eaton’s Neck on March 14, 1798. Ten acres were purchased from John Gardiner that June, and President Adams authorized construction on July 2. The lighthouse was completed by December 6, 1798, and its light was first displayed on January 1, 1799.

The tower was designed by architect John McComb Jr., who also worked on other important early federal buildings. Constructed of fieldstone with a brick lining, the octagonal pyramidal tower was built on a dressed-stone and timber foundation. The lighthouse originally stood with a separate keeper’s residence and supporting station buildings.

Improving the Light

Early inspections found that the original lighting system was not visible from a sufficient distance. In 1838, twelve lamps with 13-inch reflectors were installed to improve the lighthouse’s range. Additional reflector improvements followed during the nineteenth century.

A new lantern and third-order Fresnel lens were installed in 1858. The lens produced a fixed white light that could be seen by vessels approaching the entrance to Huntington Bay and traveling through the western waters of Long Island Sound.

Nineteenth-Century Renovations

Congress approved funds for major renovations in 1867. The work included replacing the original wooden stairs with iron stairs and landings, lining the interior walls with brick, enlarging the keeper’s quarters and installing a steam-powered fog signal.

The keeper’s residence was renovated again in 1880. For generations, lighthouse keepers and their families maintained the light, monitored weather and sea conditions, and supported the safety of mariners navigating the rocky waters around Eaton’s Neck.

Automation and the Coast Guard Station

The lighthouse was converted from oil illumination to an oil-vapor lamp in 1907 and electrified in 1921. Automation followed in the twentieth century, ending the need for a resident lighthouse keeper. The United States Coast Guard continues to maintain the navigational light.

The lighthouse is located beside Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck, a historic maritime safety station established in 1849. The station’s crews have long assisted boaters and responded to emergencies in Huntington Bay, Long Island Sound and the surrounding North Shore waters.

National Register of Historic Places

Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The designation helped protect the lighthouse from proposed demolition and recognized its architectural significance, early federal history and continuing role in maritime navigation.

The lighthouse is especially important because it retains its eighteenth-century tower and remains an active navigational landmark. Along with Montauk Point Lighthouse, it represents one of the earliest surviving lighthouse traditions in New York State.

Can the Public Visit Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse?

Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse stands on the grounds of an active Coast Guard station and is not open for ordinary public tours. Visitors should not enter the station or approach the lighthouse without official authorization. The best way to view the landmark is from the surrounding waters or from authorized shoreline locations.

Boaters traveling near Eaton’s Neck should follow all navigation regulations and remain alert for shoals, rocks, strong currents and other hazards near the entrance to Huntington Bay. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation, even though the station grounds are closed to the public.

Eaton’s Neck and the North Shore

Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse is part of the historic maritime landscape surrounding Northport, Huntington, Huntington Bay and the western end of Long Island Sound. The area includes waterfront communities, marinas, beaches and historic properties that reflect Long Island’s longstanding connection to the sea.

The lighthouse can also be viewed in relation to other historic navigation landmarks, including Huntington Harbor Lighthouse. Together, these sites illustrate the network of lights, stations and navigational aids that helped protect vessels moving along Long Island’s North Shore.

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Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse

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Key Facts & Details

Feature	Details
Official name	Eatons Neck Light
Common name	Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse
Type	Active historic lighthouse and navigational aid
Location	Northern tip of Eaton’s Neck, at the entrance to Huntington Bay
Nearby community	Northport
County	Suffolk County
Waterway	Long Island Sound and Huntington Bay
Construction authorized	1798
Construction completed	December 6, 1798
First lit	January 1, 1799
Architect	John McComb Jr.
Original appropriation	$13,250
Original land purchase	Ten acres purchased from John Gardiner for $500
Tower shape	Octagonal pyramidal tower
Tower height	Approximately 73 feet
Construction materials	Fieldstone with brick lining on a dressed-stone and timber foundation
Original lighting	Lamps with reflectors
Fresnel lens	Third-order Fresnel lens installed in 1858
Light characteristic	Fixed white light
Fog signal	Steam fog signal installed during the 1867 renovations
Electrified	1921
Automated	Twentieth century
Historic designation	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973
Current status	Operational aid to navigation located within an active Coast Guard station
Public access	Station grounds and lighthouse closed to ordinary public access
Coordinates	40.95397, -73.396641
Official historical source	U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office
Long Island Lighthouses	How many lighthouses are on Long Island?

Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse remains one of Long Island’s most important early maritime landmarks. Built in 1798 and first lit in 1799, the historic tower continues to guide vessels entering Huntington Bay while preserving the architectural character of the nation’s early lighthouse system.

Although the lighthouse and Coast Guard station are not open to ordinary public access, Eaton’s Neck Lighthouse can be appreciated from the water and through its connection to the surrounding North Shore communities. Its age, active navigational role and association with Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck make it an important part of Long Island’s maritime history.