George Washington ordered the building of the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the eastern tip of Long Island, New York, after hearing of too many ships sinking in the reefs off the coast. The lighthouse was constructed by architect John McComb Jr., for a budget of $22,300. The lighthouse exists to this day, the oldest in New York and the fourth oldest in the country. Nearly $1 million has been spent to restore the lighthouse.
The Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria was built by the Egyptians during the Ptolemy dynasty to protect ships coming into the important port of Alexandria. The lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World. The lighthouse was said to be between 400 and 450 feet high, taking 12 years to build. Remnants of the building were found by archeologists in the 1990s, who speculate the lighthouse was destroyed by earthquakes.
Built in 1858, the Bass Harbor Head Light on the southern end of Mount Desert Island is still an active lighthouse, helping guide ships into southern Maine. A Coast Guard member and family live in the lighthouse keeper's home, which also was built on the grounds in 1858. The lighthouse grounds are open year-round to visitors. The black and white stone lighthouse is 32 feet high.
The Boston Light on Little Brewster Island in outer Boston Harbor was built in 1716, the first lighthouse in North America. The lighthouse was destroyed by the British in 1776 during the American Revolution. It was rebuilt in 1783, making it the second oldest working lighthouse in the country. It is still actively staffed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The National Park Service has designated the lighthouse as a national landmark.
