9. Stepping Stones Lighthouse

This is probably one of the most adorable lighthouses we’ve ever seen. The Stepping Stones lighthouse, brick with a mansard roof was built in 1875. 900 tons of boulders were brought by barge to form the foundation. In 2006, the lighthouse was deemed “excess” and the Town of Hempstead gained ownership of the lighthouse from the National Park Service. In 2014, a public-private partnership between Hempstead, Great Neck Park District and the Great Neck Historical Society was formed to save the lighthouse. The City Island Maritime Museum has also supported the preservation effort, and roof repairs have already been completed.