Eatons Neck Light
Why it's listed
Eatons Neck Light is a stone lighthouse tower on the northern tip of Eatons Neck, overlooking Long Island Sound in Huntington, New York. A 1798 Treasury Department contract with John McComb, Jr. called for an octagonal stone tower, an iron lantern, an oil vault, a well and a frame keeper's dwelling. The tower originally rose fifty feet above its foundation and had walls four feet thick at the base. It was refitted with a new lantern and lens in 1858, and parts of the stonework were rebuilt and sheathed in iron. It now stands six stories tall and carries a flashing white light 144 feet above sea level, automated in 1972. The oil vault and dwelling have left no surface remains. The light is one of three McComb designed lighthouses and one of two eighteenth-century lighthouses surviving in New York State. It has operated continuously since 1798, managed by the Lighthouse Service until the Coast Guard took over in 1933.
Significance in brief: The light has served navigation continuously since 1798. It is one of three lighthouses known to have been designed by architect John McComb, Jr., and one of two eighteenth-century lighthouses still standing in New York State.
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 73001273, listed April 3, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Eatons Neck Point at Huntington Bay and Long Island Sound off NY 25A, Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | April 3, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001273 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1798 |
| Architect / builder | John McComb, Jr. |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, on its original site. The light was automated in 1972, and the connecting brick wing now houses equipment that operates the light. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 40.95422, -73.39618 (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 73001273.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16890843
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.