Coney Island Light

Coney Island Light is a white skeletal tower with black trim located at the western tip of Coney Island, standing about 23 meters tall. The structure sits on steel piles driven into the seabed and displays a red light that rotates continuously to guide vessels through the waters.

The tower was built in 1890 and began operating with a fourth-order Fresnel lens to guide vessels through New York Harbor's main shipping channel. It was automated in 1989, ending the era of full-time lighthouse keepers at this location.

Frank Schubert maintained this maritime beacon as the final civilian lighthouse keeper from 1960 until 2003, representing a traditional maritime profession.

The red light flashes every five seconds and is visible from up to 16 nautical miles away. Since the tower stands on steel piles in the water, it cannot be accessed on foot and is best viewed from the nearby beach.

Frank Schubert served as the final civilian keeper from 1960 to 2003, representing a vanishing maritime profession. His decades of service ended just as automated navigation systems were beginning to reduce the importance of such beacons.

Location: Brooklyn

Inception: 1890

Height: 23 m

GPS coordinates: 40.57660,-74.01178

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:02