Horton Point Light facts for kids
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| Location | N end of Lighthouse Rd., Long Island Sound, Southold, New York |
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| Coordinates | 41°5′6.51″N 72°26′44.77″W / 41.0851417°N 72.4457694°W |
| Year first constructed | 1857 |
| Automated | 1933 |
| Foundation | granite |
| Construction | Granite and brick covered in stucco |
| Tower shape | Square, attached to rectangular house |
| Markings / pattern | White with black lantern and copper roof |
| Focal height | 103 feet (31 m) |
| Original lens | Third order Fresnel lens (original), VRB-25 system (current) |
| Range | 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing green, 10s |
Horton Point Light is a famous lighthouse. It stands on the north side of Eastern Long Island, New York. You can find it in a small town called Southold. The local park district, the Town of Southold Park District, takes care of the lighthouse and its land.
History of Horton Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1857. Its light was first turned on that same year. The lighthouse stands on a high cliff, about 60 feet (18 meters) above the Long Island Sound.
In 1933, the lighthouse became "automated." This means machines took over the job of lighting it. Before that, a person called a "light keeper" had to do it. The light was turned off from 1933 until 1990.
The base of the lighthouse is made of strong granite. The rest of the building is made from granite and brick, covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. The lighthouse tower is square and is connected to a rectangular house. The tower itself is 58 feet (17.6 meters) tall. The light shines from 103 feet (31.3 meters) above sea level. The tower is white, with a black top where the light shines from. It has a copper roof. The light flashes green slowly every ten seconds.
Important Dates for the Lighthouse
- 1790: George Washington, who was the President, asked for a lighthouse to be built here.
- 1855: The United States government bought the land for the lighthouse. They paid $550 for it.
- 1857: The lighthouse was built and its light was turned on. William Sinclair was the very first light keeper.
- 1933: The light in the main tower was turned off. A smaller, temporary light on a metal frame was lit closer to the shore.
- 1934: In January, the Southold Park District bought the lighthouse buildings and land. They paid only $1.00 for it!
- 1938: The last light keeper left after a big hurricane hit.
- 1976: Work began to fix up and restore the old lighthouse.
- 1990: A major restoration project finished. The tower was repaired inside and out. The main light was turned on again. The temporary light tower on the shoreline was removed.
- 1994: The lighthouse property was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
- 2007: The lighthouse is still working today. It helps ships navigate safely. It also has a museum, and visitors can even climb to the top of the tower!
