Staten Island Light

Staten Island Light is a lighthouse on Richmond Hill featuring an octagonal brick tower painted yellow with a black lantern top, standing about 27 meters tall. The structure functions as an active navigation aid for ships passing through the nearby harbor.

Built in 1912, the lighthouse ranks among the last brick towers constructed in the United States for navigation purposes. It marks a significant moment in American coastal shipping history at the end of the era of major lighthouse construction.

The tower stands as a reminder of Staten Island's maritime past and its connection to the waterways that shaped the region. The distinctive yellow and black colors and octagonal form make it a recognizable landmark in the harbor landscape.

The structure is visible from Richmond Hill and visitors can view it up close from various vantage points along the waterfront promenade. Daytime visits work best for observing the architecture and surrounding landscape clearly.

The lantern uses a second-order Fresnel lens system, a sophisticated optical technology still in operation today. This lens type was once revolutionary for projecting light across vast distances for ships at sea.

Location: Staten Island

Inception: 1912

Height: 27 m

GPS coordinates: 40.57606,-74.14125

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:06