Montauk Point Lighthouse: A Museum of Maritime History and Hollywood Lore

The Montauk Point Lighthouse, the first lighthouse built in New York State under George Washington's directive, has operated as a museum since 2012. Located on the eastern tip of Long Island, the octagonal tower features 137 spiral steps leading to a lantern 39 meters high. Originally whale oil-powered until 1860, then kerosene until 1940, it now runs on electricity, emitting a flash visible up to 19 miles in clear weather. The lighthouse's flash frequency was changed from 10 seconds to 5 seconds, serving as its identity in darkness. The site includes the Keepers' house, now displaying historical documents, photographs, and films, including a documentary of a 1907 whale hunt. A key exhibit features documents signed by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington authorizing the lighthouse's construction and land purchase. In 1942, the US Army built a second tower nearby for coastal defense. The lighthouse is linked to the legend of Frank Mundus, a shark hunter who inspired Peter Benchley's novel "Jaws" (1974) and Steven Spielberg's 1975 film, though Spielberg filmed at Martha's Vineyard instead of Montauk.