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

1. Disrepair: a state of neglect
2. 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.