Rondout Lighthouse

Rondout Lighthouses: A Complete History Boat Trips to Rondout Lighthouse Digital Photos of Rondout Lighthouse H.R. 5199 Bill introduced by Maurice Hinchey to covey the Rondout Lighthouse to the City of Kingston, Sept. 18, 2000

The first Kingston Lighthouse was built in 1837. This wood structure became badly damaged by ice and weather and soon became unsafe for the keeper and her family. A second lighthouse of brick and stone was constructed in 1867 on the south side of the creek. This second light was abandoned in 1915 when the present dikes were constructed at the Creek's entrance. Demolished in 1954 when its roof collapsed, the second lighthouses's stone footings are still visible today.

In 1913 construction started on a new lighthouse, which is the structure known to area residents today as the Rondout Lighthouse. The largest and last 'family' light built on the Hudson River, the third Rondout Lighthouse, was first lit on August 25, 1915.

The Rondout Lighthouse was a family occupied lighthouse until 1946 when the Coast Guard took over. For most of its operative life it ran without electricity. Electricity was installed in 1946 for both household use and to run the navigational light. In 1954, Rondout Lighthouse was fully automated, the last keeper left, and the structure was boarded up.

In 1984 the Hudson River Maritime Museum entered into a long-term lease with the Coast Guard for stewardship of the Lighthouse. From 1984 to 1988, critical interior and exterior restoration was performed under a joint agreement between the Maritime Museum and the City of Kingston. Since 1988, the Maritime Museum has been solely responsible for the preservation and maintenance of the building.

In November, 2000, President Clinton signed into law a bill affecting the ownership of about 500 lighthouses across the nation, including the Rondout Lighthouse. This law set up a detailed process for transferring ownership of the lighthouses from the U.S. Coast Guard to new owners. On June 19, 2002, the ownership of the Rondout Lighthouse was transferred to the City of Kingston. Mayor James Sottile accepted the deed from the U.S. Coast Guard in a ceremony that included local and national political leaders and representatives from the National Park Service, America Heritage Rivers, and Hudson River Greenway. Under City of Kingston ownership, daily operation of the lighthouse would continue to be done by the Maritime Museum under a contract with the City.

Lighthouse tours are available for visitors on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day: Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays.