The Fire Island Lighthouse is located on the Fire Island National Seashore, a barrier island landscape just a 60-mile drive from New York City, in Long Island. A visit to the lighthouse offers miles of hiking trails, a glimpse of the keeper’s quarters, and exhibits on the history of the park and lighthouse. The 180-foot stone and brick lighthouse began operating in 1858 and was temporarily decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1974.
1. Fire Island Lighthouse Location
Rating: ★★★★★
In my 10 years of living in NYC, I took a few trips out to the Fire Island Lighthouse. There are several ways to get there. I like the scenic ferry ride from Bay Shore to Kismet, then walk or take a water taxi to the lighthouse.
If you keep a car in the city, you can drive to Robert Moses State Park, Parking Field #5 (pay the parking fee in season). Park on the east end of the parking lot. Then follow the boardwalk about 3/4-mile to the lighthouse.
Local tip: I like to pack a picnic lunch because we are all quite hungry after climbing the tower. If you have kids, you really don't want to forget water and food here!
If you forgot to bring food, try Kismet Inn before you get on the ferry. It is open from 12 - 9pm daily in the summer and usually only on weekends in late summer and in the off-season. It's good to make sure before you go. You can call them at 631-583-5592. The other place to get food is Yummier Beach Club but it's a long walk from the lighthouse and it doesn't get great reviews.
There's a lot to love about this lighthouse so lets dig in! Originally built to mark the western end of Fire Island, you can see that the lighthouse now stands approximately 5 miles from the inlet, due to the island’s infill from sand accumulation over the years.
The lighthouse is built on a foundation of Connecticut River Blue stone and I love how the conical tower is painted white with four black bands.
As a history buff, I was interested to learn that the original first-order Fresnel lens was installed in 1857 and replaced in 1933. You can see the original lens on display in the lens building, adjacent to the tower.
Did you know that the Fresnel lens was developed in the early 1800s for lighthouses by a French physicist to allow lighthouses to be visible from greater distances with much smaller equipment?
First order refers to the size of the lens, which stands at 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
Today, you can see two counter-clockwise rotating 1,000-watt bulbs light the tower.
The rotation gives the appearance that the light flashes every 7.5 seconds, and the light is visible for over 20 miles.
You can climb the 182 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower and see views of Fire Island, Long Island and, on a clear day, the New York City skyline.
I also recommend checking out the boathouse onsite which displays U.S. Coast Guard artifacts, including a surfboat used by the United States Lifesaving Service.
The USLSS, or “surfmen” as they were known, were first stationed on Fire Island in 1848. They rescued over 7,000 people between 1871 and 1915 alone!
Additional exhibits that you can see illustrate the daily life of lighthouse keepers through photographs, memorabilia, and artifacts as well as the history of the lighthouse and its preservation.
The lighthouse has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981.
2. Fire Island Lighthouse History
I was equally fascinated by the significance of the Fire Island Lighthouse in NY immigrant history.
Fire Island is a significant landmark for those arriving to the New York Harbor, and was often the first sign of land for immigrants making the trans-Atlantic journey at the turn of the 20th century.
Originally built as a 74-foot tower in 1826, I was interested to learn that the lighthouse was ineffective due to its lack of height. The structure was actually demolished and the stone was used to rebuild the current lighthouse in 1857!
If you've seen historic photos and you feel confused, I want to point out that originally, the red brick tower was painted a creamy yellow color; the black and white striped markings were painted in 1891.
After the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1974, the site was declared to be within the boundaries of the National Seashore. However, the Parks Service did not have the funds to properly preserve and maintain the site.
Fortunately for us visitors today, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS) was formed in 1982 to raise funds for the preservation of the lighthouse. As an aside, I want to point out that after the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1974, the only navigational light in the bay was a small strobe light on the Robert Moses Tower.
So it's easy to imagine why public support for the preservation and re-commissioning of the lighthouse was strong. Over one million dollars were raised, and the lighthouse went back into action in 1986.
Ten years later, FILPS took control of the management and maintenance of the associated exhibits to take pressure off the National Parks’ budget. In 2006, FILPS took control of the lighthouse management as well.
Today, the lighthouse remains on navigational charts as a private aid to navigation and is managed by FIPLS, not the U.S. Coast Guard.
3. Tours of the Fire Island Lighthouse
Please keep in mind that shirts and shoes are required!! Be sure to bring them on your beach trip so that you can enter!
The Museum and Gift Shop are open daily 10am - 4pm
The Tower is open 10am-3:30pm daily (the photo shows the view from the tower) (Please check for tower availability on weekdays)
The museum in the keeper's quarters are free to visit, but you need to pay admission to go on a tower tour. The tour costs $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Also important, please not that kids have to be 42" tall to go on this tour! You can call 631-583-5901 if you have questions about this.
If you are vacationing with the whole family, special tours may be arranged in advance for groups, including sunset tours. If you are a teacher, school group tours offer three 45-minute segments based on a tour of the lighthouse tower, a U.S. Lifesaving Service lecture and demonstration, and a nature walk, which includes the boathouse and lens house.
Special events are ongoing at the lighthouse and keeper’s quarters. Events have included live music performances and happy hour sunset tours, car shows, art shows, and tours for veterans and other special groups.
A Lightkeeper’s Behind the Scenes tour takes place monthly, as do special evening tours. You may also be interested to know that during summer months, the site offers historical re-enactments of the U.S. Life Saving Service’s beach apparatus drills.
If you fall in love with the lighthouse as many do, memberships are quite affordable.
Address: Captree Island, NY 11702, Phone: 631-661-4876
I enjoy writing about Fire Island and Long Island on my visits to this beautiful spot!
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