Description: In response to steamship concerns regarding the
dangerous shoals on the eastern shore of the Hudson River just
north of New York City, Congress authorized the building of a
lighthouse in 1847 near Tellers Point and Sing Sing Prison.
Officials, however, changed their mind and a site a few miles
south was chosen instead. The new site was part of a profitable
vineyard operated by Kingsland Point Property, and the two
parties could not agree on a selling price, delaying the project
indefinitely. Captain Joseph Ackerman lit the light for the
first time on October 1, 1883, a ceremony he would repeat many
times during his twenty-one years of service at the rock-rimmed
cast-iron tower. The 54-foot-tall conical tower consists of five
levels. The first level, having a diameter of eighteen feet,
served as a combination kitchen/dining room/living room.
Bedrooms were located on the next two levels. The fourth level
was split into two rooms, a bedroom and a small storeroom. The
fifth level stored fog bell equi