17. Stepping Stone Lighthouse

Stepping Stone Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque lighthouses you’ll find in and around New York City. Located in the Long Island Sound near the Throg’s Neck Bridge and Kings Point, the small brick structure with a mansard roof and central tower was built in 1875. The name Stepping Stones possibly derives from Native American legend, with Colonial maps calling this area the “Devil’s Stepping Stones.”

The lighthouse was deemed excess in 2006 and while there is a need for a navigational aid in its spot still, the Second Empire styled house was at risk of being demolished by the Coast Guard and replaced by a simple beacon atop a skeletal tower. In 2014, a group was formed to save the lighthouse and their preservation efforts have been aided by The City Island Nautical Museum. Repairs such as fixing the roof have already been made and hopefully the lighthouse will be restored to its former glory.