Little Red Lighthouse, Manhattan New York







Little Red Lighthouse is the last surviving lighthouse in Manhattan, and a reminder of the area's history. Built in 1921, it was originally known as the Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse.

History says that when George Washington Bridge opened in 1931, the brighter lights of the bridge made the lighthouse obsolete.  When the Coast Guard planned to auction the lighthouse, there was an outcry from the public. The outcry was encouraged by the children's book "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, written by Hildegarde Swift and Lynd Ward in 1942.

The book tells a tale that the Little Red Lighthouse is happy and content until a great bridge is built over it.  The lighthouse learns that it has an important job to do and that there is still a place in the world for an old lighthouse. What a positive story!

A festival is held annually to celebrate this lighthouse. They celebration highlights a reading and story telling of the book. It would be nice to attend this occasion someday.

For me, the view of the George Washington Bridge is more beautiful because of the presence of the Little Red Lighthouse. The lighthouse may have been obsolete, but its history is not.

It was a fun road trip exploring this lighthouse with John and Ruby. So, I made my happy dance!







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