Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse

Year Built

1903

Cost

$12,900

Type

Cylindrical

Height

15 feet

Location

West bank of the Narrows, on Staten Island

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1903

Lens Type

Fourth Order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

Bell

Year Deactivated

1965

Color

Red Brick

Last Keeper - Date

Richard O. Reeves (1969 – at least 1970)

Description

The grounds are open to the public, but the lighthouse is not.

Brief History

•  With the consent of the war department, a 1,282-pound fog bell, struck by machinery every fifteen seconds, went into operation on May 16, 1898.
•  Work on the new tower began on October 16, 1902, and the new light and fog signal went into operation on May 11, 1903.
•  In 1965, the opening of Verrazano Narrows Bridge made Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse obsolete, and the light was discontinued.
•  In 2002, Joe Esposito presented a restoration plan to the Park Service, which approved it.
•  On September 24, 2005 there was a re-lighting ceremony for the now solar-powered tower.