Lighthouses hold a symbolic place in the hearts of anyone who has had a romance with the folklore of seafaring.  Once, some 800 lighthouses populated the coastlines of the United States and all of them drew their breath from the heart of New York City Harbor, on the southern coastal edge of Staten Island, in what is today known as the National Lighthouse Museum, just off the Staten Island Ferry landing.  In its heyday, this treasure was known as the United States Light-House Service General Depot and it served as a testing ground for all lighthouse ventures and sourced equipment for every lighthouse project undertaken in the United States.

Once, there were at least as many lighthouse operators (also known as light housekeepers) as there were lighthouses in the United States. The decline in this civilian operated maritime craft began with the onset of electrical technology which made the keeper obsolete, and the last keeper, who occupied the Coney Island Lighthouse, retired in 1988. What was once an 18 building thriving industrial campus has been reduced to a 6 building museum circuit that has dedicated itself to keeping this pastime alive. Fun fact: the Statue of Liberty was itself once a lighthouse whose beams were visible from a half-mile out at sea, perhaps a truly welcoming site to millions of passengers entering the harbor.

The National Lighthouse Museum is now housed in the foundry building, constructed in 1912, and occupies 2400 square feet of historical artifacts.  After an introductory presentation, the visitor undertakes a self-guided tour with numerous options. They include such exhibits as, Beacons Through Time, Supplying the Nation’s Light Stations: The General Depot, Optics: Projecting the Light, Life at the Light: and lastly, Lighthouse Keepers!  In addition to the self-guided exhibits, the museum offers monthly lectures, group tours by appointment, seasonal Lighthouse Boat Tours (May – October), and annual events like the Lighthouse Weekend (August) and Lighthouse Point Fest (September).

A five-minute walk from the Staten Island Ferry, the museum’s summer hours run Tuesday through Sunday, from 11-5 and winter hours run the same days of the week, closing at 4 pm.  Children under 12 are admitted for free. The standard adult rate is $10 per adult with senior and military discounts at $5. Students who are aged 12 and above are admitted for $4. Group tours must be booked two weeks in advance and cost $10 per person.