Montauk Point State Park is a
state park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...
[ located in the hamlet of Montauk, at the eastern tip of ]Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...
in the Town of East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. Montauk Point is the easternmost extremity of the South Fork of Long Island, and thus also of New York State.
History
The park contains the Montauk Point Light
The Montauk Point Light, or Montauk Point Lighthouse, is a lighthouse located adjacent to Montauk Point State Park, at the easternmost point of Long Island, in the hamlet of Montauk in the Town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York. T ...
, which was authorized by the Second Congress, under President George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
in 1792. Construction began on June 7, 1796 and was completed on November 5, 1796. The lighthouse and adjacent Camp Hero
Camp Hero State Park is a state park located on Montauk Point, New York. The park occupies a portion of the former Montauk Air Force Station.
History
Military use
The site known as Camp Hero, or the Montauk Air Force Station, was originall ...
were heavily fortified with huge guns during World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
and World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. Those gun emplacements and concrete observation bunkers (which are also at nearby Shadmoor State Park
Shadmoor State Park is a state park located in Suffolk County, New York in the United States. Created in 2000, the park is located in Town of East Hampton on the South Fork of Long Island, east of the hamlet of Montauk.
History
Prior to be ...
and Camp Hero State Park
Camp Hero State Park is a state park located on Montauk Point, New York. The park occupies a portion of the former Montauk Air Force Station.
History
Military use
The site known as Camp Hero, or the Montauk Air Force Station, was originall ...
) are still visible.
The '' Amistad'', a Spanish ship taken over by slaves in 1839, was captured by the USS ''Washington'' near Montauk Point. The slaves were allowed to briefly disembark here before being re-imprisoned and taken to New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
for trial. The Amistad case was heard before the Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. Federal tribunals in the United States, federal court cases, and over Stat ...
, where John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams (; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist who served as the sixth president of the United States, from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States ...
successfully argued that the slaves had been kidnapped. Following the trial, the slaves were permitted to return to Africa. The case fanned the debate over the abolition of slavery
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people.
The British ...
.
Park description
Montauk Point State Park features picnic tables, a food concession, playground, fishing, seasonal hunting, and trails for hiking and cross-country skiing.
Suffolk Transit's S94 route also serves the park seasonally connecting it with Montauk Village. The park is located at the end of New York State Route 27.
In Literature
A memory of this district is related in Lydia Sigourney
Lydia Huntley Sigourney (September 1, 1791 – June 10, 1865), ''née'' Lydia Howard Huntley, was an American poet, author, and publisher during the early and mid 19th century. She was commonly known as the "Sweet Singer of Hartford." She had a ...
's poe
Point''
published in her ''Scenes in my Native Land'', 1845.
Image gallery
Image:US-NY - North Fork - Montauk Point Lighthouse - Montauk Point (4887140001).jpg, Montauk Point Light
The Montauk Point Light, or Montauk Point Lighthouse, is a lighthouse located adjacent to Montauk Point State Park, at the easternmost point of Long Island, in the hamlet of Montauk in the Town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York. T ...
Image:Montauk Sunrise.JPG, Montauk Light at sunrise
Image:Montauk Point Light in storm.jpg, Montauk Point Light in stormy weather
File:Montauk Point Amistad Memorial; May 11 2008.JPG, ''Amistad'' Memorial
See also
* List of New York state parks
This is a list of state parks in the U.S. state of New York. Also listed are state golf courses, seasonal hunting areas, and ''former'' state parks.
In New York, state parks are managed by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preserva ...
* Lighthouses in the United States
This is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights. Michigan has the most lights of any state with over 150 past and present l ...
* Montauk Point land claim
References
External links
New York State Parks: Montauk Point State Park
Montauklighthouse.com
{{authority control
State parks of New York (state)
East Hampton (town), New York
Beaches of Suffolk County, New York
Robert Moses projects
Parks in Suffolk County, New York
Landforms of Suffolk County, New York