NOTE: The Lighthouse Grounds, Museum and Gift Shop are now open 7 days a week, from 10:30 to 4:30 through May 23, weather permitting. Hours will lengthen as the summer progresses. (The Lighthouse Tower remains closed to the public because of Covid restrictions. Watch this space for any changes.)
Welcome to the world-famous Montauk Point Lighthouse. Located at the tip of eastern Long Island. Our magnificent lighthouse provides unforgettable 360° views of Block Island Sound, Atlantic Ocean and beyond. Whether you’re in town for a week or a day, no visit to Montauk is complete without experiencing the top of the Montauk Lighthouse.
The Montauk Point Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in New York State. The Lighthouse was authorized by the Second Congress, under President George Washington, in 1792. Construction began on June 7, 1796, and was completed on November 5, 1796. It still serves as an aid to navigation. The Montauk Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Landmark in recognition of the property’s national significance in the history of the United States on March 5, 2012, by the Secretary of the Interior.
April 12, 1792
By an act of the Second Congress, President George Washington authorizes lighthouse construction at Montauk Point
June 7, 1796
Cornerstone is laid by builder John McComb Jr.
Nov. 5, 1796
Construction of lighthouse and dwelling completed
Members of the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U. S. Coast Guard have been the residing keepers, tending the light for those at sea. Whaling ships, steamers, submarines, fishing and sailing vessels of all kinds have passed this tower on Turtle Hill, guided and reassured by its presence. On land, generations of visitors have made the trek to Long Island’s easternmost tip, marveling at this lighthouse, the work of the keepers, and the beauty of Montauk Point.
