Latimer Reef Light facts for kids
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 Latimer Reef Light
Location in New York
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| Location | In Fisher's Island Sound, one mi NW of East Point on Fishers Island, New York |
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| Coordinates | 41°18′18.0″N 71°56′00.0″W / 41.305000°N 71.933333°W |
| Year first constructed | 1804 |
| Year first lit | 1884 |
| Automated | 1974 |
| Foundation | Cast iron/Concrete caisson |
| Construction | Cast iron/Brick |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | White tower/Brown band midway/Brown base |
| Focal height | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Original lens | Fifth order Fresnel Lens |
| Current lens | 12 inches (300 mm) |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing White, 6 secs |
| Fog signal | Bell: 2 strokes ev 15s |
| ARLHS number | USA-1049 |
| USCG number | 1-20085 |
The Latimer Reef Light is a special kind of lighthouse called a sparkplug lighthouse. It stands on Latimer's Reef in Fishers Island Sound. You can find this lighthouse about one mile northwest of East Point on Fishers Island, which is in Suffolk County, New York. It was first called Latemore's Reef, named after James Latemore.
Contents
History of Latimer Reef Light
Building the Lighthouse
The Latimer Reef Light was finished in 1884. It was built in water that was about 18 feet deep. The lighthouse has a strong base made of a large, round concrete block, about 30 feet wide. This base is painted brown and is surrounded by rocks to keep it stable.
On top of this base sits a 46-foot-tall tower made of cast iron. The tower is shaped like a cone and has four stories. At the very top, there's a round room for the watchman and a ten-sided lantern room. The tower, watch room, and lantern are all painted white. There's also a brown stripe that goes all the way around the tower's third story.
Protecting Historic Lighthouses
In 2008, the United States government decided that Latimer Reef Light was no longer needed for its original purpose. This happened under a law called the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. This law helps protect old lighthouses by offering them to groups or people who will take care of them and keep them historic.
The Latimer Reef Light is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. When a property is on this list, it must be kept in good condition, following special rules to preserve its history.
Lighthouse Operations and Access
Even though the lighthouse might be owned by a new group, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) still needs to use parts of it. They have special rights, called "easements," to make sure they can always access the lighthouse. This allows them to:
- See all around the lighthouse (a 360-degree view).
- Go to the lighthouse to fix, operate, or install new equipment for navigation.
- Move or add new navigation aids or communication towers if needed for safety.
- Use an electronic fog signal that sounds like a bell and a flashing red light.
Lighthouse Postcards and Records
The Archives Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a large collection of old souvenir postcards of lighthouses. They have put many of these online, including some of Latimer Reef Light. These postcards often come with links to special nautical charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which show details about the ocean and coastlines.
