The picture above is not the original Fire Island Lighthouse, but the second one built in 1858.
The first tower stood a mere 74 feet tall and was considered by mariners to be too short to warn of the shoals out to sea.
When the Lighthouse Board was planning a new Fire Island Lighthouse, they were talking about doubling its original height. It actually ended up being 180 feet tall and was outfitted with a First-Order Fresnel Lens.
The tower is made of brick, but about 12 years later it was covered with a layer of cement to give it a smooth appearance. Twenty years after that it was give its distinct black bands to provide as a daymark.
The Fire Island Lighthouse was decommissioned December 31, 1974 at midnight. It sat vacant for numerous years. These years took its toll on the old tower, and it was later declared unsafe and badly deteriorated beyond repair. It was slated to be torn down since no money was available for restoration. But in 1981, the newly formed Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation came to the rescue. They raised over $2 million to restore the lighthouse and keeper's quarters. In 1989 the lighthouse was open to the public for the first time.
Directions: From New York City, take I-495 (Long Island Expressway) East onto Long Island. At exit S1E, you will take the Sagtikos Parkway south across the Robert Moses Causeway to the Fire Island National Seashore. This will put you into the Robert Moses State Park. Once in the park, you will head east to the lighthouse. For more information, there is a map located here: Fire Island National Seashore Map
To rate this lighthouse, click on a number below: 
Lighthouse Rating: 5.47
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