Cold Spring Harbor Lighthouse 1890 - 1965: Only Yesterday

Congress was quick to respond to the 1874 petition for establishing a lighthouse at the entrance of Cold Spring Harbor but it would be another 15 years before construction began. The appropriation, which amounted to $20,000, called for erecting either range lights or a lighthouse. The Light House Service preferred range lights since, it was reasoned, the beacons would allow mariners to more easily avoid the shallows on the west side of the harbor's entrance. By constructing two towers, the back one higher than the front, a vessel approaching the area could then line itself up on the two, and be assured that the waterway was safe for navigation. If the vessel went too far to the right, the rear range would appear to drift to the right of the front range, if it went too far to the left, the rear range would appear to drift to the left.