Staten Island Light
Also known as: Staten Island Range Rear Light; Richmond Light
Why it's listed
Rising 106 feet above Lighthouse Hill on Staten Island, this octagonal lighthouse has a yellow brick tower set on a gray cut limestone base. Built from 1909 to 1911 and put into service in 1912, it serves as the rear light of a range that marks the entrance to Ambrose Channel, the main shipping lane to the Port of New York. It lines up with an offshore light about five miles to the southeast. Its second order Fresnel lens, made in 1905, sits in a cast iron lantern 231 feet above sea level. Most American lighthouses of the period were prefabricated cast iron or steel, so this masonry design stands out, and its form is not repeated elsewhere. The tower has changed little since construction apart from updated electrical equipment. The original keepers' dwelling was sold into private hands in 1926 and still stands next door. The Coast Guard owns the lighthouse and operates it as an automated aid to navigation, and the city designated it a landmark in 1968.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an early twentieth-century brick and stone masonry lighthouse with a distinctive design not replicated in any other U.S. lighthouse, unusual at a time when most were prefabricated cast iron or steel. It is also significant for its role in the Federal system of navigational aids guiding shipping to and from the Port of New York.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05001340, listed November 30, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S side of Edinboro Rd., bet. 402 and 426 Rd., Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Staten Island |
| Listed | November 30, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001340 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1912 to 1955 |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Lighthouse Service, Third District; U.S. Lighthouse Board |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and operating as an automated aid to navigation, showing a fixed white light 24 hours a day. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.57594, -74.14114 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05001340.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2333708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.