North Brother Island Light, Maritime lighthouse on North Brother Island, East River, The Bronx, US
North Brother Island Light is a lighthouse on a small island in the East River in the Bronx, a maritime structure with a residential dwelling. The octagonal wooden tower rose about 47 feet above the water and connected to a two-story keeper's house with a mansard roof and multiple bedrooms.
The lighthouse began operating in 1869 after lengthy negotiations about the need for such a structure. It played an important role in improving safety on the difficult waters around Hell Gate, a dangerous shipping passage in the East River.
The lighthouse served as a center for the maritime community on the East River, where keepers and their families lived amid the shipping traffic. The dwelling and surrounding structures reflected the daily life of people who inhabited this isolated island.
The lighthouse site is not publicly accessible today since the island is privately owned and protected as a nature preserve. Visitors can view the structure from the shoreline or from boat tours that travel along the East River.
The fog bell that originally warned ships during poor weather was preserved after the lighthouse was deactivated and now resides at a police harbor facility. This artifact shows how the lighthouse equipment was dispersed and given new purposes in other city institutions.
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