• Miles of uncrowded white sandy beaches extend to the horizon, separating the clear blue ocean and undulating grass-covered dunes.

    Fire Island

    National Seashore New York

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  • More Park Facilities Reopen During May 2013

    Watch Hill and Sailors Haven marinas open May 10. Limited ferry service from Sayville to Sailors Haven resumes May 13 and ferries from Patchogue to Watch Hill start on May 18. Remaining park facilities to reopen by May 25, 2013. More »

Places

Fire Island National Seashore's major cultural resources include the historic Fire Island Light Station and the William Floyd Estate. Both of these facilities are maintained to interpret the rich local and maritime heritage.

Because of the frequent remolding of the Fire Island landscape by wind and wave, and other adverse factors in the environment such as salt spray, there are few intact structures more than 50 years old on Fire Island and adjacent islands and bays.

None of the lifesaving stations that were established on Fire Island during the 19th and early 20th centuries remain intact, but a few structures have been moved or converted to other uses.

Although not physically located on Fire Island, the William Floyd Estate is one of two cultural landscapes that have been identified within the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore. The 613-acre William Floyd Estate is the remnant of a larger 4,400-acre historic plantation that was occupied and use by a single family for more than 240 years for agriculture and recreation.

 
Historic aerial view of Fire Island Light Station and generator building.

Historic view of current Fire Island Light Station, with 1894 electric powerhouse building beside foundation of the first Fire Island Lighthouse,which had been constructed in 1826 and removed in 1857.

Learn More

The NPS Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI) is a comprehensive inventory of all historically significant landscapes with the National Park System, identifying and and documenting each landscape's location, physical development, significance, National Register of Historic Places eligibility, condition, and other valuable information for park management. The information contained in the CLI is based on historical research, documentation, and fieldwork, derived from secondary sources usually available in park files and archives and from on-site investigations.

A Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) involves more in-depth research, using primary rather than secondary source material.

Fire Island National Seashore has a recently completed CLI for the Fire Island Light Station, located on Fire Island, and updated the CLI for the William Floyd Estate, the two cultural landscapes that have been identified within the boundaries of the park.

Did You Know?

People on ferry look over Watch Hill Marina.

At least 2.2 million people spend time within the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore every year. Almost 800,000 people annually visit park facilities. July and August are the busiest months. Sunny weekends are the busiest days. More...