Montauk Point Lighthouse

Montauk Point Lighthouse marks the eastern end of Long Island, where the island runs out and the Atlantic begins. Completed in 1796 and ordered under President George Washington, it is the oldest lighthouse in New York State and one of the oldest in the country. The white tower with a brown band stands on a bluff at Montauk Point State Park, and visitors can climb the interior staircase to a gallery with views across the ocean, Block Island Sound and on clear days toward Rhode Island and Connecticut. A museum in the keeper's quarters and the surrounding grounds tell the story of shipwrecks, keepers and the local fishing community. The setting is wild and windswept, and it makes a fitting finish to a trip along the South Fork.

The climb is a highlight. The tower has a spiral staircase of well over a hundred steps, and the gallery at the top gives an open view of the surf, the rocks and the point itself. The climb is not suitable for everyone, and children need to be able to manage the steps, so ask at the ticket counter about age and mobility guidance.

Inside the keeper's house, the museum has lenses, photographs and objects that show how the light worked and how keepers lived. Displays cover the long history of navigation at the point, where currents and rocks have long been dangerous.

Outside, the park has paths along the cliffs, a rocky beach below the bluff and a small snack bar and gift shop. The surf here is rough and swimming is not the point, but surf fishing is popular, and the sunrise is spectacular. The bluff has been protected from erosion by stone work in recent decades, and signs explain the history of that effort. Watch for seabirds and, in cooler months, seals resting on the rocks offshore.

Opening hours and tower access follow a seasonal pattern, with longer days in summer and reduced schedules in spring and autumn, and the tower can close in bad weather, so check before you go. Parking at the state park may charge a vehicle fee in season. The lighthouse is run by a local historical society, and ticket sales support restoration work, so it is a good place to spend money rather than just pass through.

Combine the visit with the rest of Montauk. The village centre, the harbor with its fishing fleet, and the beaches at Ditch Plains and Hither Hills are all a short drive back along the highway.

Seafood is the obvious lunch, and many visitors time the lighthouse for late afternoon so they can eat nearby afterwards. The drive from Manhattan is around three hours in good traffic, longer on summer weekends, and the Long Island Rail Road and Hampton Jitney bus run to Montauk village for those who prefer not to drive. Bring a windbreaker, because the point is exposed even when the rest of the island is calm.