Princes Bay Light

Princes Bay Light is a brownstone lighthouse on Staten Island's shore that overlooks Raritan Bay and includes an attached cottage where the lighthouse keeper once lived. The structure was built to guide ships through Lower New York Bay and is now part of a public nature preserve.

This lighthouse was built in the 1860s to guide ships safely through Lower New York Bay and served that purpose for more than 50 years. It was later deactivated when modern navigation systems changed how shipping operated in the harbor.

This lighthouse sits on grounds that became sacred to a Catholic community, which transformed the maritime site into a place of spiritual reflection. The structure remains a symbol of the area's dual heritage as both a working port and a place of faith.

This lighthouse can be visited on foot through designated pathways within a public nature preserve where visitors can view the structure and surrounding grounds. Wearing sturdy footwear is helpful since the terrain is uneven and the area is close to water.

The first lighthouse keeper won his job by telling compelling maritime stories to a prominent general. This unusual path to employment shows how personal charm and conversation skills mattered when officials appointed people to important positions.

Operator: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

GPS coordinates: 40.50768,-74.21339

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21