Notes:
(1) Fire Island Light was built to mark the entrance to Fire Island Inlet* and the eastern entrance to New York’s Lower Bay.

      The first Lighthouse was 74-feet from the base to the bottom of the Lantern, cream colored Octagonal pyramidal Blue split stone Tower exhibiting a White flashing light every 90 seconds illuminated by 18 Lamps and Reflectors visible for 14.5 miles.

      By the 1850s, New York City became America’s leading seaport and the Lighthouse Board regarded Fire Island Light as the most important Coastal Light for transatlantic vessels bound for New York.  Steamers from Europe would set course for this Light which also served as departure point for the trip to Europe.  Since the Light was a important aid for transatlantic navigation entering New York Harbor, a Lighthouse investigating committee reported that the Tower’s height was ineffective as a first-class Light Station in 1852.

     In 1857, construction of the current Lighthouse began using approximately 800,000 bricks to build a 168-foot high red brick (encased in cement)Tower painted a light yellow color. The new Lighthouse was fitted with a First-order Fresnel Lens that was First Lit on November 1st, 1858 exhibiting a White flashing light every 60 seconds illuminated by a Funk Lamp with 4 concentric wicks.  Due to the flashing characteristic, mariners nicknamed the new Light, the “Winking Woman.”

     On Aug 6th 1891, the Daymark was changed from yellow to alternate 35-foot wide bands of black and white, two bands of each color and the Light was converted to electricity on September 20, 1939.

*In 1858, the new Lighthouse was built at the edge of the Fire Island Inlet and littoral drift (westward migration of sand) has moved the edge of the Inlet 6 miles west of Fire Island Light.

(2) The Lighthouse is located on the western end of Fire Island National Seashore, next to Robert Moses State Park.
For Tower tour Reservations, call (516) 661-4876.

      Access via Robert Moses Causeway to the end, turn left beach tower to parking field #5, and follow the signs to the lighthouse.

(3) The current Characteristic has been used since 1939 when the Light was converted to electric power, 280,000 cp.
The Tower is lighted throughout 24 hours with a emergency light of reduced intensity when main light is extinguished.

(4) Original 1827 Optic: 18 Lamps with 15" Reflectors, Revolving Light

1842 Optic: 14 Argand Lamps with 21" Reflectors, Revolving Light every 90 seconds
1858 Optic: First-order Fresnel Lens, Revolving Light every 60 seconds
1873 Optic: First-order Fresnel Lens, Fl W 60s [Flashing White every 60 seconds]
1924 Optic: First-order Fresnel Lens, Fl W, Incandescent Oil Vapor, 170,000 cp.

(5) On Aug 6th 1891, the Daymark was changed from yellow to alternate 35-foot wide bands of black and white, two bands of each color.

      By 1895, transatlantic ships carried 13 million dollars in cargo every week and a estimated 500,000 passengers annually.  To further aid mariners in determining their position during fog or heavy weather, a Lightship LV 58 was First Lit on July 15, 1896 six miles off Fire Island.  Lightships remained on station until 1942.

      In 1895, some Light House Board members were positive of the Lighthouse’s primary importance that plans were made to convert Fire Island to a electric light using a Bivalve Lens manufactured by Henry Lepaute of Paris, France and displayed at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago.  The manufacturers claimed that the two 9-foot diameter range lens mounted back to back using electricity would produce the most powerful flashing Light.

      A boiler room and engine room were built with a engine, a dynamo and two boilers installed. Ironwork was fitted to adapt the Lantern for the new Lens and a narrow-gauge railroad for coal shipments was built extending to the beach.

      After the extensive groundwork was completed for the new Light, the Board decided to install the electric light with Bivalve Lens at Highlands of Navesink.

(6) In January 1974, Fire Island Lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by a small flash tube Light on top of the Robert Moses State Park Water Tower.

      In 1983, the Lighthouse was transferred to the National Park Service and by 1986 the Keeper’s House became a museum and an automated light was relit on May 25th.

(7) Since 1996, the Light Station has been operated by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society by agreement with the National Park Service.  The Preservation group was formed in 1982 after the Lighthouse was scheduled for demolition due to prolonged deterioration.

      The Light was maintained and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Park Service.  On February 22, 2006, the Lighthouse become a private aid to navigation under the administration of the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society.