Let Your Light Shine!
by Terri Farris
Lighthouses, a long time symbol of guidance, originated from people setting fires at the edge of the water to warn boats of dangerous rocks and shorelines! The first lighthouse was built in Egypt in 283. It guided ships for over 1,500 years and was 900 feet tall! Today lighthouses stand on harbors, islands and beaches all over the world.
The Hudson River beginning in the New York Harbor and continuing up through the Hudson Valley area to Albany, New York is home to eight lighthouses which are now historic landmarks: The Statue of Liberty, Jeffrey Hooks Lighthouse, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, Stony Point Lighthouse, Esopus Meadows Lighthouse; Rondout Lighthouse, Saugerties Lighthouse and the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. Let’s take a trip up the Hudson River to learn about some of these unique historic landmarks!
The Statue of Liberty –
The world’s most famous lighthouse is also one of the most recognized symbols of America. Representing a beacon of hope to thousands, the Statue of Liberty stands as a National Monument on Liberty Island in the New York harbor at the mouth of the Hudson River. Formerly used as a lighthouse, Congress accepted this gift from France as a work of art and as a beacon for the New York harbor in 1877. President Cleveland appointed the US Light-House Board to be the caretaker of Lady Liberty. Fourteen arc lamps were strategically placed to illuminate the torch; however, the dimness of the lighting was little help to ships entering the harbor. The “Liberty Lighthouse” closed in 1902.
The Statue of Liberty can be visited by boarding a ferry at Battery Park in New York City or at the Central Railroad Terminal located at the north end of Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Liberty Island, the statue and its base were closed immediately after the events of September 11, 2001. Limited access to the statue resumed in December 2001. The Statue of Liberty crown will reopen to the public on July 4th of this year. http://www.nps.gov/stli
Jeffrey Hooks Lighthouse –
Just up the river stands one of the most beloved lighthouses in 
America. The Jeffrey Hooks Lighthouse, known as The Little Red Lighthouse, was constructed in 1920 to aid in the navigation of shipping on the Hudson River. In the 1930’s the George Washington Bridge was constructed over the lighthouse. The story of the lighthouse is told in the 1940’s children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge by Hildegard H. Swift. In the story the Little Red Lighthouse is happy with his important role of warning the ships about the river’s dangers. One day a great grey bridge is constructed over it and the Little Red Lighthouse feels useless. In the end, the lighthouse learns it still has an important place in the world and learns to work with the Great Grey Bridge to warn the ships! The lighthouse was saved from demolition due to the outpouring of support from the public who sent letters and money for the preservation of this beloved icon. The lighthouse was later deeded to the City of New York. You can tour the lighthouse from Spring thru Autumn. Tours are led by the Urban Park Rangers and feature historical exhibits inside the lighthouse. http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=393
Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse –
The 1883 lighthouse at Sleepy Hollow, formerly known as the Tarrytown Lighthouse, is the only Caisson-style lighthouse on the
river. The United States Congress authorized the erection of the lighthouse in 1847 but the project was delayed by controversy over the prospective site of the lighthouse. Over thirty years later the decision was finally made to locate the lighthouse in the river itself approximately one-quarter mile off Kingsland Point. In its 78 years of service the lighthouse had a nearly perfect record of performance. The Lighthouse at Sleepy Hollow had twelve keepers over the 78 year period, many with wives and some with children. Designed as a family station, the keeper and his family lived in the five-story structure year-round. The lighthouse was rendered obsolete with the completion of the Tappan Zee Bridge in 1955. The lighthouse is open for group tours by appointment only for groups of up to 25 people. Periodic public visiting hours are also held. Call (914) 366-5109 for further information. The lighthouse can be viewed from Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow.
Stony Point Lighthouse –
Built in 1826 by Thomas Phillips of New York City for a cost of $3,350, the Stony Point Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson. 
Constructed of blue split stone, the lighthouse is a 30-foot tall octagonal structure. One of the most notable keepers of this lighthouse was Nancy Rose. Nancy’s husband, Alexander Rose, died just four years after taking over as keeper. A widow with six children, Nancy cared for the Stony Point lighthouse once maintaining her post in the lighthouse for 56 hours faithfully ringing the fog bell during a dense fog! The lighthouse is part of the Stony Point Battlefield Park. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=29
Saugerties Lighthouse –
The Saugerties Lighthouse is a red-brick lighthouse built in 1869 situated at the mouth of the Esopus Creek on the Hudson River. This restored lighthouse gives visitors an opportunity to step back in time and sample life as a lighthouse keeper with a stay at the Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast! The lighthouse contains a small museum, gift shop, parlor, kitchen, keepers quarters and two guest bedrooms. Access to the lighthouse is by way of a ½ mile long trail with bridges and boardwalks. The lighthouse is open to the public during the day. Overnight reservations can be made for Thursday through Sunday evenings year round except for the month of February. http://www.saugertieslighthouse.com
A visit to any of the Hudson Valley Lighthouses from the Statute of Liberty in the New York harbor to the Hudson-Athens lighthouse at the top of the Hudson River Valley will transport you back to a time when the lights were still shining from these historic beacons!
Terri Farris is a freelance writer who enjoys traveling. You can see more of her writing on her blog at www.terrifarris.blog-spot.com or contact her at [email protected].