Fire Island Light

Infobox Lighthouse


caption = Fire Island Light
location = Fire Island inlet, Long Island
coordinates = coord|40|37|56.8|N|73|13|06.9|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearbuilt =
yearlit = 1858
automated = 1986
yeardeactivated = Active, inactive 1974-1986
foundation = Connecticut River Blue Stone/timber
construction = Brick encased in cement
shape = Conical tower with four black and white bands
height =
height = 168 ft (51 m) cite web | url = http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/park/fireisl.htm | title = Inventory of Historic Lighthouses | accessdate = 2007-08-14 | publisher = National Park Service ]
elevation =
lens = First order Fresnel 1856
currentlens = Carlisle & Finch Company
intensity =
range = 24 nm
characteristic = Flashing White 7.5 seconds.

The Fire Island Light is a visible landmark on the Great South Bay, in southern Suffolk County, New York on the western end of Fire Island, a barrier island off the southern coast of Long Island. The Lighthouse is located with in Fire Island National Seashore and just to the east of Robert Moses State Park.

The current lighthouse is a 167 foot Stone tower that began operation in 1858 to replace the 89 foot tower originally built in 1827. The United States Coast Guard decommissioned the light in 1974. In 1982 the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS) was formed to preserve the lighthouse. FILPS raised over $1.2 million to restore the tower and light. On May 25, 1986 the United States Coast Guard returned the Fire Island Lighthouse to an active aid to navigation. On February 22, 2006, the light became a private aid to navigation. It continues to be on the nautical charts, but is operated and maintained by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society and not the USCG.

It is listed as Fire Island Light, number 695, in [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/LightLists.htm USCG light lists] .

When the lighthouse was built it was on the edge of Fire Island Inlet and marked the western end of Fire Island. However Fire Island has extended itself through accumulating sand so that the lighthouse is now nearly six miles from the western end of the island at Democrat Point.

150 Anniversary

The lighthouse is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year. The lighthouse is also celebrating its anniversary this year of the 100th Anniversary of Robert Moses State Park.

Access

The lighthouse can be accessed by a short walk from Robert Moses State Park (Long Island) - Field 5. It is open to the public daily. Tower tours are available for a small fee.

ee also

* List of lighthouses and lightvessels
* Fire Island Inlet

References

External links

* [http://www.fireislandlighthouse.com Fire Island Lighthouse Official Website]
* [http://www.explorethesouthshore.org/ Explore the South Shore]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=390 Fire Island Lighthouse] - from Lighthousefriends.com
* [http://www.fireisland.com/history.php History of Fire Island Lighthouse -Fire Island News and Online Travel Guide]
* [http://www.lighthousedepot.com/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=355 Lighthouse Depot information]
* [http://www.loving-long-island.com/fire-island-lighthouse.html Fire Island Lighthouse - Day trip & nearby attractions]
* [http://www.nps.gov/fiis Fire Island National Seashore]