Eaton's Neck Lighthouse

Location: East side of Huntington Bay entrance. At the end of Lighthouse Road.

Description: 73 feet, fixed white light, Third Order Fresnel lens, 1000-watt quartz bulb with 150,000 candlepower, octagonal sandstone tower, foundation constructed of brick, sandstone and cement. Lens made by the Henry-Lepaute Company of Paris. Lighthouse originally used four whale oil lamps in the lantern room.

History of light:

• 1798, March 14: $13,250 appropriation for lighthouse made.

• 1798, June 16: 10 acres of land bought from John Gardiner for $500.

• 1798, June 29: Drawings and estimate submitted by John McComb, Jr.

• 1798, July 2: President John Adams signs bill authorizing construction.

• 1798, December 6: Construction completed.

• 1799, January 1: First lit.

• 1837: Inspection found all lights to be defective. Light was only visible seven or eight miles.

• 1838: 12 lamps with 13-inch reflectors installed. 17 mile visibility.

• 1842: Nine-inch reflectors installed.

• 1850: 13 lamps with 15-inch reflectors installed.

• 1858: New lantern and Third Order Fresnel lens installed.

• 1867, March 2: Funds for renovation authorized by Congress.

• 1868: Renovated. Wooden steps replaced with iron steps and landings, walls lined with bricks, keeper's quarters expanded and steam fog signal installed.

• 1880: Renovations to keeper's quarters.

• 1907: Lamp fuel changed from oil to oil vapor. Compressed air siren added.

• 1921: The Long Island Lighting Company agreed to run electric to the area and light was electrified shortly thereafter.

• 1961: Automated.

• 1992: Erosion of waterfront was hastened by 40 feet by a nor'easter.

Current use: Active navigational aid on an active US Coast Guard station.

The surrounding area: Eaton's Neck is northwest of Asharoken and Northport.

Public access? Yes. Grounds may be visited by  appointment. Tower has been closed to public since 2000.

Similar Lights: Similar to the Montauk Point light, which was also built by John McComb, Jr. (1763-1853)  two years earlier.

Other information: The keeper's quarters no longer exist, having been replaced Coat Guard housing. This tower holds Long Island's only remaining active Fresnel lens.

Who to Contact: U.S. Coast Guard at Eaton's Neck,(631) 261-6959.

Eaton's Neck Lighthouse on June 13, 1999