National Lighthouse Museum

Circumnavigation of Staten Island - SOLD OUT
2025-09-07 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
Explore fascinating and mysterious sites unfamiliar to most New Yorkers on this exciting boat ride circumnavigating Staten Island.
This tour takes you past critical points of maritime interest: the historically rich Shooters, Prall’s, Isle of Meadows (the center of what was once the world’s largest garbage dump that now served as Fresh Kills Park representing NYC’s largest park), Hoffman and Swinburne Islands.
Our journey up the Kill Van Kull, and the Arthur Kill waterways, over to Raritan Bay, Princes’ Bay Staten Island’s southern shore around the Narrows contains much important history critical to NYC’s development and to its maritime life: Sailor’s Snug Harbor, the Caddell’s Shipyard and Repair Facilities at Port Richmond, Mariners Harbor, Port Ivory, Rossville, the eerie site of the Ship’s Graveyard, Tottenville, Prince’s Bay and Seguine’s Point together with key New Jersey maritime, commercial and industrial sites located along the Kill Van Kull, the Arthur Kill and Newark Bay including: Bayonne, Elizabeth, Linden, Carteret and historic Perth Amboy, which, overlooks the beautiful Raritan Bay.
Bridges under which our boat passes include the recently renovated Bayonne, the restored Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge, the all new Goethals Bridge, the Outerbridge Crossing and the Verrazano Narrows.
Lighthouses described and seen on this exciting tour include: Robbin’s Reef, Great Beds, Prince’s Bay, Staten Island’s Rear Range, (site of the Old Orchard Shoals Lighthouse destroyed by Sandy in 2012), New Dorp, Elm Tree Beacon and the Battery Weed Light of Fort Wadsworth.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Lighthouse Boat Tours commence rain or shine.
The boat leaves from the National Lighthouse Museum. Admission to Museum is FREE for Boat Tour ticketholders.
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Richmond County Orchestra Outdoor Concert
2025-09-21 15:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
The Richmond County Orchestra is a non-profit professional symphony orchestra based in New York City on Staten Island. It was founded in 1998 by Maestro Alan Aurelia and has been bringing world-class presentations of the classical arts to the greater Staten Island community for over 25 years.
Alan Aurelia, Conductor
Carla López-Speziale,mezzosoprano
Pablo Zinger, pianist
Alejandro de los Santos,baritone
William Velasco, tenor
Bring your own chairs and snacks! Free Admission to the Museum.

International Lighthouse Point Fest
2025-10-05 13:00 - 18:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
Celebrating Our Maritime History
Children’s Activities • Magic
Balloons • Face Painting
International Entertainment
Indian Dance • Mariachi Performers • DJ Joe Nose
Opera Singing • Afro-Caribbean
$3.00 Suggested Donation • Children under 12 Free
Plus Free Entry into the National Lighthouse Museum!
SOUP CONTEST IS BACK!
Free to Enter the Contest. Click here to Enter.
$7 to Sample the Soup Entries.
Call for performers and artists!
Email info@lighthousemuseum.org
Click here to become a vendor!

Twin Lights Bus Tour
2025-10-08 09:00 - 16:30
Bus Tour Includes: Transportation to Twin Lights Historical Lighthouse with Guided Tour, Lunch Buffet at Bahr’s Landing Restaurant. Leaves from National Lighthouse Museum (top of hill).
The Twin Lights Lighthouse is located in Highlands, New Jersey, overlooking Sandy Hook Bay and the entrance to New York Harbor. Originally built in 1828, it became a significant navigational aid and was the first lighthouse in the U.S. to use the Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1949 but remains a National Historic Landmark, offering visitors a glimpse into maritime history and a museum showcasing its artifacts. Visitors can enjoy stunning views from the towers and participate in educational programs about lighthouse technology and history.
$125.00 per person
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Open House New York Weekend
2025-10-17 - 2025-10-19
Open House New York Weekend is an annual festival that unlocks 300 destinations across the five boroughs for behind-the-scenes tours and special activities.
Take a look at new buildings transforming the skyline, step inside infrastructure facilities keeping the city running, explore parks offering respite, discover state-of-the-art performance spaces, visit manufacturing workshops, browse private collections, and much more.

Fall Foliage Tour up the Hudson River to Haunted Sleepy Hollow - SOLD OUT!
2025-10-19 11:00 - 16:30 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
Explore fascinating and mysterious sites unfamiliar to most New Yorkers on this exciting boat ride along the Hudson River.
Up the Hudson River to Tarrytown Light near the legendary Sleepy Hollow. See the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge along this scenic boat tour. Along the way, take in the stunning fall foliage along the shores of the mighty, historic, Hudson River.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Lighthouse Boat Tours commence rain or shine.
The boat leaves from the National Lighthouse Museum. Admission to Museum is FREE for Boat Tour ticketholders. Please call the museum at 718-390-0040 for further information if needed.

Murder and Mayhem on the High Seas of Staten Island
2025-10-26 14:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
Staten Island was not the quiet place that people thought it was in years gone by. On May 12, 1889, Mary Tobin’s remains mysteriously washed up at the dock of the Clifton Boat Club. Two years later a man’s body was discovered bound and gagged floating off of Tottenville. From South Beach to West New Brighton, the waters around Staten Island and its surrounding coastline have yielded some disturbing secrets. In “Murder on the High Seas of Staten Island,” historian Patricia M. Salmon presents several of the most meticulously researched murders and mysteries that have occurred in and around the bays, harbors, and inlets of our borough.
Patricia Salmon is a professional historian and naturalist. She writes books that are filled with verified fascinating facts and commentary that appeal to all interested in community history. Ms. Salmon knows what her audience wants and for this reason she searches for history’s hidden secrets.
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Cosmic Bowling
2025-11-02 13:30 - 15:30 | Rab’s Country Lanes, 1600 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY, 10305, United States
Cosmic Bowling at Rab’s Country Lanes will light up the afternoon to benefit the National Lighthouse Museum!
Guests will enjoy an afternoon of bowling under the cosmic lights, complete with shoe rental, pizza, and soda. Each ticket also includes five free raffle tickets, with the option to purchase more for a chance to win exciting prizes—all while supporting the National Lighthouse Museum.
Reserve Your Lane

Museum Store Sunday
2025-11-18 11:00 - 16:00
We’re excited to invite shoppers to our store on Sunday, November 30, in celebration of Museum Store Sunday! Everyone is welcome to visit our store at the to shop with purpose and find distinctive and locally-made gifts for family, friends, and anyone on their holiday lists, such as ornaments, clothing, and accessories.
Shoppers’ museum store purchases support their favorite museums and cultural institutions, as well as artists and small businesses in their communities.

Lighthouse Calendar Photo Contest Showcase
2026-01-03 11:00 - 2026-01-24 16:00
Discover the artistry, history, and quiet power of America’s lighthouses through the eyes of our award-winning photographers. This special exhibition features the winning and finalist photographs from the Lighthouse Photo Contest, celebrating images that capture not only striking coastal beauty, but also the enduring spirit of these iconic beacons.
Opening Reception: 11am-4pm on January 3, 2026
Exhibit from January 3 – 24, 2026 during Museum hours

How Did the Universe Begin? Is It the Only One? NEW DATE!
2026-02-15 14:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
How did everything begin? This lecture with Harold Kozak, NASA Solar System Ambassador, looks at what scientists know about the birth of the universe, including the Big Bang and how space, time, and galaxies came to exist.
Learn what scientists mean by the “multiverse” and why this idea is exciting even if it’s still being explored.
Perfect for anyone who’s curious about space and the big questions of existence. No science background needed – just curiosity!
Harold Kozak
Harold has a B.S. degree from Wagner College and an M.S. degree from Richmond College. He is a retired Adjunct Professor of Astronomy from Wagner College.
He has given over 112 NASA presentations both in the United States as well as in Norway, Iceland, Scotland, England, Ecuador and Peru. In addition, he is the author of two science fiction novels published on Amazon.com.
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Lighthouses are for Lovers and Friends High Tea
2026-03-14 15:00 - 17:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
Guests are invited to bring their own teacup to compete in our Best Teacup Contest, adding a personal and whimsical touch to the afternoon. Americana period attire is encouraged, so feel free to dress the part and step back in time as we celebrate history, friendship, and romance. The event will also feature the launching of the Angel Fish Flag by Selva Orzelli.. Enjoy raffles, light jazz, and delightful conversation as we gather for an elegant yet relaxed high tea experience surrounded by the enduring charm of lighthouses and the connections they represent.
Sponsorships available.
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Melissa’s Diary: An Erased American Hero
2026-03-19 18:00 - 20:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
In the treacherous waters off the coast of Maine during the late 1800s, Melissa Colby Holden, a woman of Native American heritage and indomitable spirit, embarked on a daring journey that would forever alter the course of maritime history and women’s rights. This is not merely the story of Maine’s only permanent female lighthouse keeper, but a testament to the power of one woman’s refusal to be erased by a male-dominated world determined to silence her voice.
This is not a story about a woman who needed saving. This is a story about a woman who helped change history and refused to be erased.
Based on true events, this Life’s Diary chronicles a remarkable woman’s journey through love, loss, tragedy, innovation, and triumph. From the windswept isolation of Mark Isle Lighthouse to the bustling streets of Washington, D.C., Melissa’s story unfolds against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, one where women were fighting for their most basic rights while men in positions of power sought to maintain the status quo at any cost.
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Before the Lights Staten Island and the Birth of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service
2026-03-22 14:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
This first talk explores how Alexander Hamilton’s creation of the Revenue Marine —later known as the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service— and the work of early customs officers made Staten Island a key state and federal maritime outpost in the early republic. Focusing on an 1814 act that converted St. Andrews Church glebe at the Watering Place (present day Tompkinsville/St. George) into state and federal quarantine grounds, the talk will discuss how cutter operations, quarantine policy, and public health helped secure American commerce and shape the island’s emergence as a center of federal authority. Although intended to protect the port and the nation’s commerce from the importation of infectious disease, the 1814 act also planted the seeds for the growth of Tompkinsville ultimately fueling fear and resistance that culminated in the violent destruction of the state Quarantine Ground.
About the Speaker: Dr. Vigorito is a Professor of Psychology at Seton Hall University recently retired from his full-time position after 33 years of teaching and now serves as a part-time senior scientist in Seton Hall’s Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. Dr. Vigorito is a trustee at the National Lighthouse Museum and has a long interest in the history of the place once known as the Watering Place.
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NEW DATE: Gateway to the World: The Great Port of New York with Bill Miller
2026-03-29 14:00 - 16:00
Called the greatest harbor anywhere, Bill Miller – Mr. Ocean Liner – will take us on a tour of the harbor & its highlights: the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, bridges & ferryboats, the grand liners & the great skyscrapers.
Bill Miller, known as Mr. Ocean Liner, has written over 100 books on passenger ships. He is also a popular guest speaker on modern-day cruise ships, having made hundreds of voyages and visited ports from Alaska to Antarctica.
He has also hosted ocean liner events at Lincoln Center, been a curator at South Street Seaport, appeared in numerous television programs, and been the recipient of numerous awards. His life has been the subject of a TV documentary aptly titled Mr. Ocean Liner and available on Amazon Prime.
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Lighting the Way: Robert Padovano
2026-04-02 - 2026-06-10
An exhibition of original paintings spotlighting the waterways and vessels that make our hometown thrive and the lighthouses that protect them.
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 2, 6-8pm

The Watering Place: Stories Before the Revenue Service
2026-04-19 14:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
This second talk of the series explores the early history of Staten Island’s northeastern shoreline, long before lighthouses and federal patrols shaped the harbor. From early European encounters and Dutch settlement efforts to the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, we will trace how the Watering Place evolved from a source of fresh water and a quiet farmstead into a strategic military staging ground. Through vivid local episodes—including violent struggles with the indigenous people, an unusual knighting ceremony, and the arrival of a massive British fleet—the talk reveals how this overlooked shoreline played a pivotal role in New York Harbor’s colonial and revolutionary past, linking these early stories to Staten Island’s later maritime and public health history.
About the Speaker: Dr. Vigorito is a Professor of Psychology at Seton Hall University recently retired from his full-time position after 33 years of teaching and now serves as a part-time senior scientist in Seton Hall’s Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. Dr. Vigorito is a trustee at the National Lighthouse Museum and has a long interest in the history of the place once known as the Watering Place.
Register Today!

Safety and Healing: Public Health and Discovery on Staten Island
2026-05-06 18:00 - 20:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
This talk traces Staten Island’s role in American public health and safety, beginning with the world-renowned Dr. Benjamin Rush and local leadership spearheaded by Dr. Richard Bayley, first health officer of the NY State Quarantine and Marine Hospital established at the Watering Place. We will journey outward to nearby Staten Island places such as the Seamen’s Retreat to the south—later a federal research laboratory and a U.S. Marine Hospital at the forefront of identifying and treating infectious disease. The journey then moves inland to Sea View Hospital, site of a landmark antibiotic trial for the cure of tuberculosis and the discovery of the first antidepressant drug. The talk will also spotlight Joseph Henry, eminent scientist and inaugural director of the Smithsonian, whose experiments at the U.S. Lighthouse Service Depot transformed lighthouse illumination and foghorn design, strengthening navigational safety for seafarers nationwide. Together, these stories show how maritime safety and medical discovery on Staten Island shaped national public health.
About the Speakers: Dr. Vigorito is a Professor of Psychology at Seton Hall University recently retired from his full-time position after 33 years of teaching and now serves as a part-time senior scientist in Seton Hall’s Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. Dr. Vigorito is a trustee at the National Lighthouse Museum and has a long interest in the history of the place once known as the Watering Place.
Dr Marraccino is an Adjunct, Associate Professor at CUNY and trained Fellow, associated with Bio-Rad Laboratories,Biotechnology, Explorer program. I bring over 25 years of teaching experience advancing STEM and Career and Technical Education (retired from: NYCDOE, CTE) programs. Dr. Marraccino is also an advisor at the National Lighthouse Museum, and previously lectured on the Quarantine with Dr. Vigorito.
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Annual Golf Outing
2026-05-08 | South Shore Golf Course, 200 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 10314, United States
Friday, May 8, 2026
Shotgun Start 9:00am • Best Ball Format
Grand Oaks Country Club (South Shore Golf Course)
200 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10312
Register and Sponsor Today!

Preserving America’s Lighthouses
2026-06-07 14:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
The Memoirs of a Coast Guard Ocean Engineer with Rear Admiral Daniel R. May (Ret.)
Join Daniel R. May for a fascinating presentation on his decades of dedication to preserving America’s historic lighthouses and other vital aids to navigation.
Through personal reflections, behind-the-scenes insights, and engaging anecdotes, he shares the challenges, milestones, and passion that have helped protect these maritime landmarks and ensure their legacy endures.
Rear Admiral Daniel May, a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, is the recipient of a Distinguished Service Medal and many other awards. During his career, he served as the engineer for major lighthouse projects, including the relocation of Block Island Southeast Light in Rhode Island (the first move of a major lighthouse in the United States), the relocation of Highland Light on Cape Cod, and the design and construction of a revetment to protect Montauk Light on Long Island, New York.
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Perfect for FATHER’S DAY!
2026-06-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Leaves from Pier1 (National Lighthouse Museum Site) on the Nautical Princess
View lighthouses on and off shore. Tour Staten Island from the outside looking in with speaker Pat Salmon. Food and drink available for purchase. No outside food and drink allowed. **Leaves from Pier1 (National Lighthouse Museum Site) on the Nautical Princess.
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The East River and Long Island Sound
2026-07-26 11:00 - 14:00 | Leaves from Fast Ferry Dock in St. George on the New York Water Taxi
Pass through Hell’s Gate to Long Island Sound learning about several lighthouse facts along the way turning around at the Throgsneck Bridge. Bring your own snacks and drinks. **Leaves from Fast Ferry Dock in St. George on the New York Water Taxi
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16th Annual Lightkeeper's Gala
2026-08-07 17:00 - 23:00
Details coming in early 2026!

Celebrating 250 Years of our American Lighthouses
2026-08-08 14:00 - 16:00 | National Lighthouse Museum, 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY, 10301
From the time the first ship left port thousands of years ago and promptly hit a rock and sank, “Lighthouses” have been guiding mariners along the often unknown and treacherous shores the world over. Our nation was a relative latecomer to the world of “Navigational Aides”, but science, technology, courage, and dedication soon made our American lighthouses the envy of the world. Join lighthouse volunteer, historian, and author Jack Graham in a pictorial tour of lighthouse evolution from 1776 to today.
Mr. Graham is a retired Pennsylvania state park manager, always involved in operation and maintenance of historic sites to include colonial-era farms, grist mills, iron furnaces, and farmstead buildings. Since retirement in 2005, Mr. Graham and his wife have spent a part of each summer as docents at 17 different lighthouses across the U.S. and Canada.
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Statue of Liberty Sunset Harbor Cruise
2026-08-09 18:00 - 21:00 | Leaves from Pier1 (National Lighthouse Museum Site) on the Nautical Princess
View lighthouses on and off shore. Bring your own snacks and drinks. **Leaves from Pier1 (National Lighthouse Museum Site) on the Lady Marie
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Hudson River Cruise
2026-09-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Leaves from Fast Ferry Dock in St. George on the New York Water Taxi
Cruise Up the Hudson River to Tarrytown Light near the legendary Sleepy Hollow. See the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge along this scenic boat tour with speaker Maggie Flanagan. Bring your own snacks and drinks. **Leaves from Fast Ferry Dock in St. George on the New York Water Taxi
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