Registration is now open for our free Untapped Cities Insider tours of the “Little Red Lighthouse” on October 25th and October 26th! This Urban Park Ranger led tour is especially exciting because this historic landmark in Fort Washington Park rarely opens its doors. On these tours, guests you will learn the history of the tiny beacon, officially named Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse, and climb up the original 48 cast iron plate steps of its spiral staircase to the top of the tower. You will also learn about the natural and human history of the surrounding area including Fort Washington Park, The George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River as you walk down to the lighthouse from Washington Heights. You can register for this free tour now if you are an Untapped Cities Insider. Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and access free behind-the-scenes tours and events in New York City all year long!
DATES: Thursday, October 25th from 12:00PM to 1:30PM Friday, October 26th from 12:00PM to 1:30PM
CAPACITY: 30 guests. Spots allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse, erected in 1880 and moved to its current site in 1921, has become widely known as the children’s literary landmark “The Little Red Lighthouse.” This 40-foot tall structure is one of the few surviving lighthouses in New York City. When the George Washington Bridge opened in 1931, the brighter lights of the bridge made the lighthouse obsolete. It was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1948. The lighthouse’s nickname comes from the children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, written by Hildegarde Swift and Lynd Ward in 1942. Swift and Ward’s book was beloved by schoolchildren and drew endearing attention to the site. When the Coast Guard moved to tear down the lighthouse in 1951, public disapproval ultimately led to the site being turned over to the Parks Department which renovated and continues to maintain the site today.
