Because New York City is a city around a harbor that several rivers flow into, it shouldn't be surprising that there are lighthouses around New York City. But this one might surprise some people, as it's located right in the middle of the East River. Sometimes, Roosevelt Island might surprise some people, as it is located right in the middle of the East River, too. It used to be a place where there were prisons and hospitals and sanitariums (and similar), when it was called Blackwell Island. Now, with some new development, it was renamed Roosevelt Island. It's connected to Queens by a bridge and to Manhattan by a tramway (which I'd like to ride someday, especially if I can see Spiderman.)
So let's get some lighthouse history. This is from the Lighthouse Friends page on this lighthouse.
"This 50-foot-tall, gray gneiss, Gothic-style lighthouse was built in 1872. It is not an official Coast Guard lighthouse, but it was commissioned by the city. The lighthouse’s purpose was to “effectually light” the nearby New York City Insane Asylum for boats navigating the treacherous Hell Gate waters. It was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr., whose other works include Smallpox Hospital and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Inmate labor was probably used in the city-run project, but to elaborate much on its construction is to explore legend."The Lighthouse Directory adds:
"1872 (James Renwick, Jr.). Reactivated (inactive 1940s-1998; always unofficial and charted as a landmark); focal plane 52 ft (16 m); continuous white light. 50 ft (15 m) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted gray stone; lantern painted black. ... The lighthouse was built for the city of New York by convicts from the city's former Blackwell Island Prison. The lighthouse was restored in 1998, thanks to an anonymous $120,000 donation to the city."
Below, pictures and a river view (from Google Streetview).
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