Things to do / Travel Guide
On Long Island, floridly decorated historic Gold Coast mansions grace the North Shore while in the Hamptons, unusual post-modern architectural innovations abound. But amidst all of this glitz and glamour, don't overlook the subtle strength of Long Island's lighthouses.
Architecture in the Hamptons
Since the 1960s, the Hamptons on the eastern end of Long Island, has been notorious for its cutting edge (if not eccentric) architecture. Creative geniuses Steven Spielberg, Jackson Pollack, Willem de Kooning, among others who purchased properties in the Hamptons, couldn't possibly deign to commission conventional constructions. As a result, world-renowned architects such as Richard Meier, Pierre Chareau, and Robert A.M. Stern, were given the “green light” to use the Hamptons as a playground for daring designs. When international celebrities and millionaires started bringing their money to the area, glitzy, modern mansions began to crop up along the coast. Today the Hamptons are an eclectic mix of stone walls, curved glass, and steel-embellished modern estates next to old-timey shingled cottages and Arts-and-Crafts bungalows. To get a glimpse of the mélange of modernist and postmodernist architecture drive along Dune Road in Westhampton Beach, or follow Gin Street to Meadow Avenue in Southampton.
Lighthouses around Long Island
It is hard not to find something to like about the simple, elegant symmetry of a lighthouse tower. From tall, cylindrical towers to steeple-like constructions, New York State has the second-highest number of lighthouses in the United States and Long Island is home to more than 25 of New York's most beautiful maritime structures. The following noteworthy lighthouses are active, open to the public, and recommended for a visit:
- The Montauk Point Lighthouse is on the easternmost point of Long Island and is the New York state's oldest lighthouse.
Built of Connecticut sandstone blocks, the 119-foot octagonal tower was commissioned by George Washington, designed by colonial architect John McComb Jr. (Manhattan's City Hall is also his design) and was completed in 1796. At the Montauk Point Lighthouse you can climb the lighthouse tower, enjoy Look Out Point (with views of Connectictut, Rhode Island, and Block Island) as well as Turtle Cove Look Out (views of the Atlantic Ocean). It is also possible to request tours of the double keeper's dwelling, the fog signal house, among other historic areas of the lighthouse.
Standing at 167 feet, Fire Island Lighthouse, near Robert Moses State Park, is Long Island's tallest lighthouse. Finalized in the 1850s, the 167-foot brick, cylindrical tower stands atop a flagstone and is still active today. Climb the Fire Island Lighthouse tower and you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Great South Bay, Fire Island, Long Island and, on a clear day, even the Manhattan skyline. Sunset tours of the lighthouse can be requested and there is also an exhibit area featuring lighthouse-related artifacts.
Built on a bluff in Southold on the North Shore, the Horton Point Lighthouse was authorized for construction by Washington in 1790 but wasn't actually built until 1857. The foundation of the 58-foot tower is granite, and the tower and quarters are brick and granite with a copper dome. Horton Point Lighthouse houses a nautical museum with whaling tools, maritime artifacts, among other things.
Historic Gold Coast Mansions on Long Island
For a foray into the treasure trove of time, tour the North Shore's Gold Coast. The below restored, lavish mansions that once belonged to finance barons and wealthy industrialists are open to the public. Each estate has its own, seasonal schedule.
- Eagles Nest, in Centerport, once belonged to the Vangerbilt family. Built between 1910 and 1936, the interior is decorated with European tapestries, family furnishings, and a marine biology collection that belonged to William K. Vanderbilt II.
- Coe Hall and the Planting Fields, in Oyster Bay, is considered to be one of the most well-maintained estates in Nassau County. Built in the 1920s, the home's lavish and eccentric interior is filled with original artwork and priceless antiques.
- Sands Point Preserve, near Port Washington, features two historic castles, Castlegould and Hempstead House, and Falaise, a grandiose Normandy-style Manor. While the interiors of Castlegould and Hempstead House have not been restored, the Renaissance art and beautiful period furniture are what make Falaise a favorite Long Island historic attraction.
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