Fire Island Lighthouse: Long Island Architect: Landmark Series

The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS) was formed in 1982 in response to the possible demolition of the Fire Island Lighthouse. The Society raised over $1.2 million to save and restore the Lighthouse.

On May 25, 1986, the Lighthouse was returned to duty as an active aid to navigation with a grand relighting ceremony. This May marks the 20th anniversary of this event. On January 6, 2006 the light was privatized when the US Coast Guard signed over operations to the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. Volunteers will now maintain and repair the light to ensure its continues to be an active aid to navigation for Mariners.

In December of 1996, FILPS took over the maintenance and operation of the Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters/Visitor Center, with the intention of increasing visitor services and programs for schools and other interested groups on a national and international basis.

Since its inception FILPS's directive has been to work with the National Park Service to help preserve the nautical heritage of Fire Island and Long Island, and to ensure that this monument remains an integral part of that heritage.

Today, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society continues its important work. The Board of Directors, staff and volunteers work to maintain the Lighthouse, archive its history, improve the displays, expand programs and make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

The Fire Island Light is a visible landmark on the Great South Bay, in southern Suffolk County, New York on the western end of Fire Island, a barrier island off the southern coast of Long Island. The Lighthouse is located within Fire Island National Seashore and just to the east of Robert Moses State Park. It is part of the Fire Island Light Station which contains the Light, Keepers Quarters, Lens Building containing the original First Order Fresnel Lens, and a boat house.
The current lighthouse is a 180-foot (55 m) Stone tower that began operation in 1858 to replace the 74-foot (23 m) tower originally built in 1826. The United States Coast Guard decommissioned the light in 1974. In 1982 the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS) was formed to preserve the lighthouse. FILPS raised over $1.2 million to restore the tower and light. On May 25, 1986 the United States Coast Guard returned the Fire Island Lighthouse to an active aid to navigation. On February 22, 2006, the light became a private aid to navigation. It continues to be on the nautical charts, but is operated and maintained by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society and not the USCG. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and a boundary increase for the national historic district occurred in 2010.
It is listed as Fire Island Light, number 695, in the USCG light lists.
When the lighthouse was built it was on the edge of Fire Island Inlet and marked the western end of Fire Island. However Fire Island has extended itself through accumulating sand so that the lighthouse is now nearly six miles from the western end of the island at Democrat Point.
The Archives Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a collection (#1055) of souvenir postcards of lighthouses and has digitized 272 of these and made them available online. These include postcards of Fire Island Light with links to customized nautical charts provided by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
The lighthouse was featured in the 2002 sci-fi action comedy Men in Black II. It was also featured in the 2008 romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas.