Support Us!
The oldest operating lighthouse in the United States has been guiding ships into New York Harbor since 1764. That’s not a typo. It survived the Revolutionary War (the British used it; Patriots tried to destroy it and failed), the War of 1812, two World Wars, and 260 years of Atlantic storms. The tower stands 103 feet tall and is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. You can’t climb it, but you can walk around the base and stand in the presence of something genuinely ancient by American standards. The surrounding Fort Hancock adds another layer of military history to the visit.
