Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse is a reinforced-concrete light station at the entrance to Lloyd and Huntington harbors on Long Island's north shore, completed in 1912. A two-story tower topped by an octagonal iron lantern rises from the east side of a single-story dwelling with round-arched windows and a parapet. Both sit on a concrete crib foundation that was poured on shore, towed about half a mile, and sunk onto a leveled sand bottom before being filled with concrete. The lighthouse is noted as one of the earliest reinforced-concrete lighthouses in the country, and perhaps the first on the East Coast, at a time when iron caissons were the usual choice for shoal sites. Its sheltered position behind Lloyd Neck allowed officials to try the material with limited risk to shipping. It also reflects the small-harbor shipping and fishing of the north shore. Interior woodwork and the cast-iron stair survive, though cracking and plaster damage have been recorded.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the earliest reinforced-concrete lighthouses in the nation, and perhaps the earliest on the East Coast (Criterion C). It also represents the maritime heritage of Long Island's north shore. Its sheltered location made it a suitable site for testing concrete, and it likely helped establish the material's fitness for later lighthouses.
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 89000501, listed May 31, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Entrance to Lloyd Harbor, Lloyd Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | May 31, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000501 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1912 |
| Architect / builder | Chas. Mead & Co. - Builder |
| Architectural style | Other: reinforced concrete lighthouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a Coast Guard facility and lighthouse. The structure shows cracking, spalled cornice molding, deteriorated plaster and a rotted floor in one room, and the original illuminating equipment has been replaced by a modern plastic beacon. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.91101, -73.43126 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 89000501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5945338
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.