Hudson–Athens Lighthouse facts for kids
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 Hudson–Athens Lighthouse
Location in New York
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| Location | Hudson River, between Athens and Hudson |
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| Coordinates | 42°15′7″N 73°48′31″W / 42.25194°N 73.80861°W |
| Year first constructed | 1874 |
| Year first lit | 1874 |
| Automated | 1949 |
| Foundation | Granite caisson |
| Construction | Dressed Stone and red brick |
| Tower shape | Square, red brick, granite trim |
| Height | 46 feet (14 m) |
| Original lens | fifth order Fresnel, 1926; currently at Mystic Seaport Museum |
| Current lens | currently 12-inch (300 mm) light |
| Range | 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) |
| Characteristic | Green light occulting every 2.5 sec |
| Fog signal | Fog bell mechanism at 15 sec intervals |
| Admiralty number | J1140.75 |
| ARLHS number | USA-391 |
| USCG number | 1-38560 |
The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse is a cool old lighthouse in the Hudson River in New York. People sometimes call it the Hudson City Light. It sits between the towns of Hudson and Athens, a bit closer to Hudson.
This lighthouse was built in 1874. Its main job is to warn boats about a sandy area called Middle Ground Flats. It also helps ships find their way safely along the river. The lighthouse stands on a strong granite base called a caisson. This base has a special shape to protect it from ice and other things floating in the river. The building itself looks like a fancy old house with a mansard roof. It's almost exactly like another lighthouse, the Stepping Stones Light, which was built a few years later.
History of the Lighthouse
The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse first lit up on November 14, 1874. Its very first keeper, Henry D. Best, turned on the light. In 1926, the lighthouse got a better light, called a fifth-order Fresnel lens. Then, on November 10, 1949, the lighthouse became fully automated. This means it could run by itself without a keeper living there.
In 1967, a group called the Hudson River Valley Commission had an idea. They suggested that some lighthouses owned by the United States Coast Guard should be given to history groups. This would help make sure the lighthouses were taken care of and saved. The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse was the first one to try this new plan.
On February 15, 1984, a group called the Hudson–Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS) signed a 20-year agreement with the Coast Guard. In 2000, HALPS officially became the owner of the lighthouse. Today, this group offers tours of the lighthouse sometimes. They are working to restore it to how it looked in the 1930s.
The lighthouse is also part of a special survey called the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). This survey has nine detailed drawings of the lighthouse. You can also find the Hudson–Athens Lighthouse on a special map for sailors, called NOAA Chart 12347.
Important Dates for the Lighthouse
Here are some key moments in the lighthouse's history:
- 1872: The U.S. Congress said "yes" to spending $35,000 to build the lighthouse.
- 1873–1874: The lighthouse was built.
- November 14, 1874: The lighthouse started working, with Henry D. Best as its first keeper.
- 1940s: Electricity was added to the lighthouse.
- November 10, 1949: The lighthouse became automated, meaning it ran on its own.
- 1967: A group suggested that lighthouses be leased to non-profit groups for care.
- 1982: The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society was created.
- February 15, 1984: The Preservation Society signed a 20-year lease with the Coast Guard. This was the first agreement of its kind!
- 2002: The Preservation Society started offering occasional tours to the public.
Lighthouse in Culture
The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse is quite famous! The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a collection of old souvenir postcards of lighthouses. They have put 272 of these online, and some show the Hudson–Athens Light. These postcards even link to special nautical maps from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The lighthouse is also featured in a book called Curious Constructions – A Peculiar Portfolio Of Fifty Fascinating Structures by Michael Hearst.
Hudson–Athens Lighthouse in Lighthouse Digest's Lighthouse Explorer Database
