Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Esopus Meadows Lighthouse rises from the Hudson River off the western shore, separated from land by tidal flats. Built in 1871, it is a one and one-half story wood frame building painted white with a red mansard roof, set on stone rip rap. A tower and lantern room pass through the roof, ringed by an octagonal deck, and the windows and doorways carry Second Empire detailing. It replaced a lighthouse begun in 1838 that ice floes had ruined within thirty years. It is the only lighthouse on the Hudson built with a wood frame and clapboard. Because it can be reached only by water and could not be manned from shore, it was a family station with a keeper always in residence. Coast Guard personnel gradually replaced the keepers after 1939, and the light was automated from shore in 1965. A new beacon and fog signal were later placed on a steel tower nearby. The interior has since deteriorated.
Significance in brief: It is the only Hudson River lighthouse built with a wood frame and clapboard sheathing. It replaced an earlier 1838 lighthouse that was ruined by ice floes. Reachable only by water, it was a family station with a resident keeper until automation in 1965. It is part of a thematic group on Hudson River lighthouses tied to maritime history, architecture and transportation.
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 79001638, listed May 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Spans Hudson River, Esopus |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | May 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001638 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Second Empire detailing around windows and doorways, with a red mansard roof |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Station closed in 1965 and automated; interior has deteriorated, with plaster falling from the walls. Condition rated fair. Present use listed as none. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.87111, -73.94533 (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 79001638.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5398653
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.