Staten Island Light

The Staten Island Range Light, also known as the Ambrose Channel Range Light, is the rear range light companion to the West Bank Lighthouse.[4][5] Built in 1912, the 90-foot tower sits more than five miles northwest of the West Bank Lighthouse, on Staten Island’s Richmond Hill (Lighthouse Hill), 141 feet above sea level. It shows a fixed white light that can be seen for 18 miles, by all vessels bound to New York and New Jersey Ports coming in from the Atlantic Ocean (on range only).[6]

Staten Island Light
LocationNew York City
Coordinates40°34′33.8″N 74°08′28.5″W[1]
Tower
Constructed1912 Edit this on Wikidata
FoundationGrey limestone
ConstructionYellow Brick
Height90 feet (27 m)
ShapeOctagonal
MarkingsNatural
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place, New York City Landmark Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1912
Focal height231 feet (70 m)
LensSecond Order Fresnel lens
Range18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)
CharacteristicFixed White (F W) (lit 24 hours, visible only on range)
Staten Island Light
LocationS side of Edinboro Rd., bet. 402 and 426, Richmond County, New York
Arealess than one acre
MPSLight Stations of the United States MPS
NRHP reference No.05001340[2]
NYCL No.0367[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 30, 2005
Designated NYCLJanuary 17, 1968

The original hardware, including the second magnitude Fresnel lens and glass reflector, remain in place. However, the original mineral oil-burning lamp has since been replaced with a 1000 watt General Electric-manufactured Airway Signal incandescent lamp, with the backup light, which automatically turns on in the event of primary lamp failure, being the same. Many lighthouses have transitioned to LED systems, but this legacy equipment remains in use at this light.

The Staten Island Range Light also has a second light, the Swash Channel Rear Light. This light is also a steady white light beacon, and shines continuously 24 hours a day. The Swash Channel is not a major shipping lane like the Ambrose Channel. Rather, it is akin to a "secondary road," connecting the Ambrose Channel with the Sandy Hook Channel. This secondary light is not within the lantern room, as is the main light, the Rear Ambrose Channel Light.

Both the Ambrose Channel Light, as well as the Swash Channel Light, have backup lights independent from each of the main lighting systems (and the main systems' backup lamps). Neither light blinks or rotates, and each is only visible on range. Additionally, the Staten Island Range Light may be powered by banks of on-site batteries in the event of power failure.[7]

It was designated a New York City Landmark in 1968 and remains a valuable aid to navigation for ships entering the Ambrose Channel in Lower New York Bay.[6] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Light List Volume I Atlantic Coast 2019 (p. 304)" (PDF). US Coast Guard Navigation Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. "Staten Island Lighthouse" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. January 17, 1968. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  4. Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard.
  5. Staten Island Range Lighthouse, New York at Lighthousefriends.com
  6. National Lighthouse Museum – Staten Island Lighthouse Archived 2007-08-06 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Staten Islander News Org - Century Old Staten Island Range Lighthouse: A Tour With The U.S. Coast Guard
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