The Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park

 I hope everyone had an amazing 4th of July weekend! 

I was lucky enough to spend it with my older sisters, their children and significant others in one massive house in New Hampshire by a private lake. No plans, no stress and TONS of food. To say it was incredibly relaxing would be a total understatement.

 As some of you may know (at least those very close to me), I am obsessed with lighthouses! I even have an entire gallery on my site dedicated solely to these fascinating architectural wonders that withstand the elements, as well as the test of time. 

So when Untapped Cities provided the opportunity to sign up for a private tour of The Little Red Lighthouse (also known as Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse) located in Fort Washington Park, I immediately jumped at the chance. Now tucked beneath the George Washington Bridge along the Hudson River, the last surviving lighthouse on Manhattan (the closest one is on Roosevelt Island) stands 40 feet tall and was transported in 1921 and reassembled piece by piece from where it was originally built in 1880 in Sandy Hook, New Jersey (where the oldest working lighthouse in the US resides).

Learning its rich history from the very enthusiastic and fun park ranger who guided the tour was not only educational but made the day itself even more exciting and memorable. Especially when he whipped out a handmade replica of a Native American flute that was gifted to him, and played an original tune for us before our journey to the top of the lighthouse began. 

Some of you may recognize The Little Red Lighthouse from the children's book "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge". A book that resonated in the hearts of many. Enough to cause a stir among its fans once the city planned on putting it up for auction. It was saved, restored and now belongs to NYC Parks. You can still climb to the top if you sign up for a tour and many school children take field trips there weather permitting. Legend has it, you can still hear the sounds of a Native American flute playing at night, with the silhouette of a park ranger sitting at the top ;)