I spent this past weekend in Montauk, at the very end of Long Island. While the Hamptons swell with visitors and beachgoers during the summer, at this time of year it is refreshingly quiet and laid back. While out there, I visited the Montauk Point Lighthouse, which is the oldest lighthouse in New York, authorized by George Washington in 1792.
Those who’ve spent time with me before know that my favorite activity is eating (I basically plan my trips around food), and my second favorite activity is reading and learning about…basically anything. I love natural history museums, reading about how things work, learning about how and why cities are set up the way they are – I’m a big nerd who just loves learning. It may have been deemed really uncool in my younger days, but I embrace it now. The Montauk Point Lighthouse was therefore a fantastic visit for me! It was so fun to climb the 128 steps to the top, where you have a 360 degree view of the Atlantic, Block Island Sound, and more:
Additionally, the lighthouse itself has been turned into a museum. You can learn about lighthouses in general, the history of this lighthouse, the whaling industry, the original Native Americans who populated the land, the geography and topograhy.
This interactive display of lighthouses all throughout the Long Island area was really informative. I don’t know about you, but North Dumpling is especially intriguing to me:
Some early whaling and fishing gear:
The Montauk Point Lighthouse is such a fun time and super family friendly. If you ever find yourself out in Montauk and are looking for a fun and educational way to occupy an hour or so, definitely give it a visit, and let me know what you think!
