| Coordinates: | 40.954°N -73.3951°W | ||||||||||
| Yearbuilt: | 1798 | ||||||||||
| Yearlit: | 1799 | ||||||||||
| Automated: | 1961 | ||||||||||
| Yeardeactivated: | Active | ||||||||||
| Foundation: | Dressed Stone/Timber | ||||||||||
| Construction: | Fieldstone with brick lining | ||||||||||
| Shape: | Octagonal pyramidal | ||||||||||
| Lens: | 12 Lamps, 13inches Reflectors (1838), Third Order Fresnel lens (current) | ||||||||||
| Characteristic: | Fixed white light | ||||||||||
| Fogsignal: | Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s) | ||||||||||
| Module: |
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Eatons Neck Light has served as a navigational aid since its construction in 1798.[1] Designed by John McComb, Jr., it is one of only two 18th century lighthouses still standing in New York State, the other is the Montauk Point Light.
1798, March 14: $13,250 was appropriated for the lighthouse to be built.
1798, June 16: Ten acres were bought from John Gardiner for $500.
1798, July 2: President John Adams authorized construction of the light.
1798, December 6: Construction of the lighthouse was completed.
1799, January 1: The light was first lit.
1837: An inspection found the light to be defective. The light was not visible at .
1838: Twelve lamps with 13-inch reflectors were installed to improve the visibility of the light.
1842: 9inches reflectors were installed.
1850: Thirteen lamps with 15inches reflectors were installed.
1858: A new lantern and a third order Fresnel lens were installed.
1867, March 2: Congress approved funds needed to renovate the lighthouse.
1868: Renovations completed included the replacing the old wooden stairs with iron stairs with landings, the interior walls were lined with brick, the :keeper's quarters were expanded and the steam fog signal was installed.
1880: The keeper's quarters were renovated.
1907: The oil lamp was replaced with an oil vapor lamp.
1921: The light was electrified.
1961: The light was automated.
-- Data from the United States Coast Guard[2]
The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[3]