5. Little Red Lighthouse

Although the Little Red Lighthouse has a prime spot beneath the George Washington Bridge, this isn’t its original home. The North Hook Beacon was constructed in 1889 and served Sandy Hook, New Jersey. It stood there until 1917 when it was reconstructed on Jeffrey’s Hook four years later. It maintained an active lighthouse until 1947, by which time it was deemed obsolete due to the illumination from the George Washington Bridge.

In 1951, the lighthouse was slated for demolition to be sold as scrap. An outcry of public support, which is said to have been the direct result of the 1942 children’s book, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, saved the lighthouse. The lighthouse was transferred to the New York City Parks Department and is now a member of the Historic House Trust. A handful of times a year, the lighthouse is open to the public.

Check out 8 other historic buildings that have been relocated in New York City.

Read more about NYC sights where children’s books come alive.

Our previous coverage of NYC’s other lighthouses.