Fire Island Light, NY.

Dawn - November 2, 1858

“Dawning of a New Generation”

During the three years preceding the Civil War the nation saw an explosion of lighthouse construction. But this group of towers represented the second age of American lights; taller, better built and using the new Fresnel lens. One of these, the Fire Island lighthouse, brought many innovations together at one location. It had a taller, tapering tower with a 1st order Fresnel, a three family keepers' house and both located on a terraced platform. One improvement had not yet occurred by 1860. Daymarks did not become a reality until the 1870s, and in Fire Island’s case, not until 1891.

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