Coney Island Light (also Nortons Point Light) is a
lighthouse located in
Sea Gate, on the west end of
Coney Island,
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, east of
New York Harbor's main channel.
The lighthouse was first established in 1890. The current tower was first lit in 1920 and is still operational. It was automated in 1989. The foundation material is steel pile and the lighthouse is made out of steel. It is a skeletal white tower with black trim. The original lens was a fourth order
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens ( ; ; or ) is a type of composite compact lens developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) for use in lighthouses. It has been called "the invention that saved a million ships."
The design allows the c ...
put up in 1890. The most recent resident keeper was
Frank Schubert
Frank Schubert (1915–2003) was the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States.
Schubert began working for the United States Coast Guard in 1939. At the time of his death he was serving at the Coney Island Light in Sea Gate, Brookl ...
(1915–2003). Schubert was the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States. He worked for the
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
since 1939, serving at Coney Island since 1960.
The Long Island chapter of
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. A non-profit corporation, it has described its purpose ...
has published a history of the light.
Coney Island Lighthouse
Paumanok Alarm, Long Island Chapter Newsletter, Sept 2007
References
External links
*
*
Coney Island Lighthouse web site
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Coney Island Lighthouse Friends
Coney Island July 2012
Lighthouses completed in 1890
Lighthouses completed in 1920
Lighthouses in New York City
Coney Island
Sea Gate, Brooklyn
Transportation buildings and structures in Brooklyn
Government buildings in Brooklyn
1890 establishments in New York (state)
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