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1834 Congress appropriated $5,000 for a lighthouse at the mouth of the Esopus Creek
1838 The first lighthouse at Saugerties was built at the mouth of the Esopus Creek with funds appropriated by Congress. It was constructed to guide ships away from nearby shallows and into the Esopus Creek when Saugerties was a major port with daily commercial and passenger transportation. The light was 5 whale oil lamps with parabolic reflectors.
1867 Funds were provided for the present lighthouse
1869 The present lighthouse was built on a massive circular stone base sixty feet in diameter. A sixth-order Fresnel lens was used with kerosene lamps. The foundation for the original lighthouse remains as a small island adjacent to the exisiting lighthouse.
1888 The Saugerties harbor was enlarged to improve access by dredging the Esopus Creek and constructing a jetty. A small road was made to connect the lighthouse to the mainland atop the jetty created from the dredging spoils.
c.1900 The boathouse was moved from the island to the circular pier of the current lighthouse.
1910 A fog bell was added to the light-tower.
1940 Major repairs made to the lighthouse.
late 1940s Electricity, steam heat and telephone were added.
1954 The Coast Guard automated the light, making the light keepers obsolete. The building was closed up and fell into disrepair and decay.
1976 Saugerties Art Council formed a committee to attempt to save the lighthouse.
1978 Local historian Ruth Reynolds Glunt and architect Elise Barry succeeded in placing the lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Structures. This stimulated local citizens to restore the building.
1985 Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy formed with the purpose of acquiring the lighthouse and restoring it to its former glory.
1986 The Conservancy acquired the lighthouse and the adjacent wetlands, purchasing the building for $1 from the State of New York.
1990 After extensive fundraising and restoration work the building was completely reconstructed. After 36 years, the light was restored to operation in the light tower on August 4, 1990. The Coast Guard installed a fourth-order Freznel lens with a solar-powered light.