Today we celebrated my Birthday by making a trip to upstate NY to visit the Hudson - Athens Lighthouse. It was a beautiful day and the scenery and quaint towns along the Hudson River were fun to visit.
The Hudson -Athens Lighthouse is 100 miles from the mouth of the Hudson River. The construction of the lighthouse began in 1873 and was first lit November 1, 1874. It is the northern most light on the Hudson River. It was built to warn whalers of a mud flat in the middle of the river. The fixed white light had a focal plane forty-six feet above the river.
The second lighthouse was down river from the Hudson Lighthouse at Saugerties ,NY. It required a one mile round trip walk to view it, but it was worth it! After years of neglect, and near collapse, it was rescued, refurbished and is now a Bed and Breakfast.
The original lighthouse commenced operation in 1835. In 1848, it was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt by 1850. Ice flows and tidal currents took their toll on the foundation pier and in 1867 a replacement lighthouse was built closer to shore and still stands today. In 1985 the Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy purchased the lighthouse and surrounding wetlands for $1! The lighthouse was once again refurbished. It too is a Bed and Breakfast, and has a lighthouse keeper who is also the Bed and Breakfast keeper! For more information click the link on this blog below Favorites.
We then headed home along Route 9 W, which is my old stomping grounds growing up on the Hudson River. Memories .........
Arrived back at Penny's around six and spent the night visiting and resting.
Til next time..........
The Hudson -Athens Lighthouse
The Saugerities Lighthouse
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