Sitting atop the eastern point of Long Island, Montauk Point Lighthouse has guided ships for more than 225 years. It is a National Historic Landmark.
Fun Facts
- President George Washington ordered the lighthouse’s construction in April, 1792. It was completed in November, 1796.
- The U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Coast Guard have been responsible for maintaining and lighting the lighthouse.
- The lighthouse has guided submarines, ships, and fishing vessels to safety for many years.
- The lighthouse was abandoned by the Coast Guard in the 1960s. The lighthouse fell into disrepair. People worried that powerful storms and waves would eventually wash the lighthouse away.
- During the 1970s and 1980s, Georginia Reed organized citizens to build a terrace to protect the lighthouse. The lighthouse is used today to guide ships and is also a museum.
Vocabulary
- Disrepair: a state of neglect
- Terrace: a structure built on a hillside to prevent erosion
Questions and Answers
Question: How did the Coast Guard take care of the light house?
Answer: a caretaker lived in the lighthouse full-time.
Learn More
Watch a video about the Montauk Point Lighthouse.
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Declan, Tobin. " Cool Facts about Montauk Point Lighthouse ." American History for Kids, Jan 2021. Web. 20 Jan 2021. < https://www.americanhistoryforkids.com/montauk-point-lighthouse/ >.
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Tobin, Declan. (2021). Cool Facts about Montauk Point Lighthouse. American History for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.americanhistoryforkids.com/montauk-point-lighthouse/
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