Hell Gate Lighthouse, 1931. Constructed at the entrance to hazardous Hell Gate Passage between New York City's East River and western Long Island Sound, this small pyramidal lighthouse was lit in 1888. The wooden structure replaced a metal one that had been erected four years earlier and was darkened after only two years. That initial structure was 255-feet-tall and included an electric light that was described by the New York Times as "the most powerful light that has ever been put in a lighthouse." It should be noted, this beam was not a beacon to distant ships, but a giant electrical floodlight. It was decommissioned because shippers complained it was too bright and more of a distraction than a help. A 1931 article in the Times mentions that the Hell Gate Lighthouse was being modernized. It is unclear if the wooden pyramid was demolished at that time or a later date. Today, the light is mounted on one of the outfield light stands of Whitey Ford Field, a city-operated baseball diamond.

New York City has 520 miles of waterfront (which is more than Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco put together)! Situated on one of the world's largest natural harbors, with rivers that separate and surround its land, the waterways of the city have long played a major role in the development and growth of the city. The safe passage of goods, fuel, and passengers has always been of paramount importance and as such dozens of lighthouses have been erected on land and at sea, used to aid in maritime navigation. This lists highlights a few of historic lighthouses that have illuminated the waterways of the city.