Lighthouses of New York Harbor Elm Tree Lighthouse Miller Field, Staten Island

The Elm Tree Lighthouse got its name from Dutch mariners that used an elm tree located on the site as a bearing when they entered the channel. The light is located on the southeast end of New Dorp Lane at Miller Field. The first Elm Tree Lighthouse guided mariners safely through the Swash Channel. This white hexagon shaped tower had a red band around its middle, distinguishing it from the other lights serving the harbor. Established in 1852, it worked in conjunction with the New Dorp Lighthouse (rear range) as a Front Range light, with keepers maintaining the light. In 1939, a concrete aviation tower replaced the original structure. The new tower showed a green light for aviators and a white light (on range only) for mariners. The second Elm Tree Light performed the same range duties, until 1964 when the US Coast Guard deemed it unnecessary.