THE NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM
Located on the former site of the United States Lighthouse Service’s (USLHS) General Depot in St. George, Staten Island, the National Lighthouse Museum educates visitors about the history and technology of the nation’s lighthouses.
The General Depot was the national headquarters, testing ground, and distribution center for all materials and equipment used by light keepers and USLHS personnel from 1864 to 1939. Once a lively and bustling site of 18 buildings, today only 6 remain.
The Museum is located in the 1912 foundry building. It is 2,400 square feet and is self-guided. Museum exhibits include: Beacons Through Time, Supplying the Nation’s Light Stations: The General Depot, Optics: Projecting the Light, Life at the Light: Lighthouse Keepers, and much more!
In addition to our self-guided exhibits, we offer monthly lectures, group tours by appointment, seasonal Lighthouse Boat Tours (May – October), and annual events like our Lighthouse Weekend (August) and Lighthouse Point Fest (September).

EXPERIENCE ONE OF OUR LIGHTHOUSE BOAT TOURS
Looking to do something out of the ordinary? Take one of our boat tours. We have tours that visit lighthouses that can’t be seen from land, as well as ship graveyards and bird sanctuaries. Check out our current tours today!
GET IN TOUCH
Have any questions? Want to schedule a group tour? Please contact us. You can send us an email through the form on the left or call us at 718-390-0040
Become a Sponsor of the National Lighthouse Museum
Enjoy our special members’ benefits and support this historical site.
ALL MEMBERS ENJOY:
- Free admission to the museum
- 10% discounts in the museum store
- Subscription to The NLM Quarterly Newsletter and email newsletters
- Members’ rates for events, programs, lectures & classes