August 7 is National Lighthouse Day, a celebration that commemorates Congress’s approval of “An Act for the Establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers” in 1798. Two hundred years later, Congress officially passed a resolution that made the holiday official.
In honor of the day, why not take a trip to one of the Hudson Valley’s scenic lighthouses? We’ve profiled a few of the notable ones in our area.
Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse
Kingsland Point Park
Route 9
Sleepy Hollow, NY
(914) 366-5109
Nestled right in Westchester, the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse can be seen from the Tappan Zee Bridge, with best viewing from Kingsland Point Park. It was erected in 1883 as a “family station,” with a keeper and his family living inside year-round. Now, the lighthouse is open for group tours by appointment and, of course, viewing from several miles up the Hudson River.
Jeffreys Hook Lighthouse (Little Red Lighthouse)
Fort Washington Park
181 St
New York, NY
(212) 304-2365
Some would call Jeffreys Hook Lighthouse the most beloved lighthouse in America. Famously featured in The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge by Hildegard H. Swift, it’s been loved and treasured by children across the country (who eventually saved it from demolition). The lighthouse is open on a regular basis for tours from Spring through Fall, but the attraction can be admired from the outside all year long.
Stony Point Lighthouse
Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site
Battlefield Road
Stony Point, NY
(845) 786-2521
Stony Point Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson, built for a cost of $3,350 in 1826. It has undergone a number of structural changes since its inception, but children and adults alike have enjoyed touring the structure and marveling at its historical longevity. Located atop a high, jutting peninsula, the lighthouse is a true token of beauty and history.
Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Port Ewen, NY 12466
The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse is no longer open for visitation as it has been deemed structurally unsafe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still catch a glimpse of it.
You can find information on more of the Hudson Valley’s lighthouses with the resources below.
www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/nydn.htm (scroll to the bottom for Hudson Valley lighthouses).
