Our week in East Hampton was spent relaxing, enjoying great food and great company, and taking some time to relax.

We also took a field trip to Montauk, where my daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and I enjoyed an indulgent seafood repast at Hooked. I had a lobster roll that was huge, lobster-y and so perfect that I’m still dreaming about it. It was supremely stuffed and so was I after consuming it.

Not to worry, though, because we soon had a chance to work off those crustacean calories when we made a visit to the Montauk Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse is now owned by the Montauk Historical Society, though the Coast Guard still takes care of the navigation aid it provides.

This lighthouse was commissioned by President George Washington in 1792 and was built in 1796. It overlooks the Block Island Sound and is one of the oldest lighthouses still in operation in this country.  The base of the lighthouse where the keeper once lived now has exhibits in the rooms, including a diorama showing all 28 lighthouses surrounding Long Island.

The most interesting exhibit was on the erosion that plagued the lighthouse. Erosion was a problem for the Montauk Lighthouse as it lost about one foot of land a year.  This issue threatened to see the Lighthouse fall into the ocean. Enter Giorgina Reid (1908-2001), a tiny textile designer who had figured out a way to protect her property in Rocky Point on Long Island from erosion. She built terraces and planted reeds that pulled the rain into the ground. It worked, and as her neighbors continued to lose their oceanfront property to erosion, Giorgina and her husband did not.

When she heard that the lighthouse had the same erosion problem, she volunteered to try to save it with her method. The Coast Guard was dubious, but figured they would humor her. Starting on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, Giorgina and her volunteers came every Sunday for fifteen years, creating terraces to stop the erosion. Her plan worked, and Giorgina was honored by the historical society in 1985. What an amazing lady.

After enjoying the exhibits, we began our climb to the top of the lighthouse.  I am told there are 137 narrow, winding steps to the top of the tower.  I didn’t count them, but I did walk them. The fun part was sliding to the right and holding on for dear life as someone came down as you were going up.  There was a nice, loose rope banister to hang onto during the ascent and I hung on for dear life. Such fun.

Despite the strenuous ascent, I found the museum and lighthouse fascinating, and the views spectacular.  Thank you, Giorgina, for saving the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Well done.