Montauk Point Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Montauk Point Lighthouse is an octagonal, pyramid-shaped tower of cut stone at the eastern tip of Long Island, in the Town of Easthampton. Built in 1796 and 1797 and rebuilt in 1860, it was authorized by President Washington in January 1796 on a site selected in 1792. John McComb, architect of New York City Hall, designed it. In 1860 steps replaced an interior ladder and the tower gained 28 feet. It now rises 108 feet above ground, with walls three feet thick that widen to 12 feet at the base. The site also has rebuilt 1860 outbuildings, a skeleton tower and a World War II-period tower. Erosion has brought the shoreline much closer than the original distance of nearly 100 yards. The light has burned whale oil, lard oil and kerosene before electric power, and flashes every ten seconds. The nomination describes it as the oldest beacon established by the United States, a landmark on the sea approach to New York harbor for over 170 years, and a popular scenic attraction.
Significance in brief: The form calls it the oldest beacon established by the United States. It was authorized by President Washington in 1796 and designed by John McComb, architect of New York City Hall. It marks an important sea approach to New York harbor and has been a navigation landmark for over 170 years. It is also a popular scenic attraction.
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 69000142, listed July 7, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2000 Montauk Hwy., Montauk |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | July 7, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000142 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | John McComb |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Communications |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated March 2, 2012 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and altered, on its original site. The form shows it occupied, with public access, and in government and park use. A 1960s letter describes erosion of the bluff in front of it. |
| Coordinates | 41.07107, -71.85717 (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 69000142.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6904488
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.