Bug Light’s Legacy: From 1870 to Today

The Long Beach Bar “Bug” Lighthouse has seen its share of maritime history. Built between Gardiner’s Bay and Orient Point, it’s been guiding mariners around the sandbar in Peconic Bay since 1870. You might know it by its nickname, “Bug Light,” based on the way it looked at high tide — like a giant water bug — as it was built on screw piles.

It has changed over time, of course. A fire destroyed it one night in July 1963, and it wasn’t rebuilt until 1990, when the community came together with the then newly established East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation to reconstruct it. Within just 60 days, the lighthouse returned to its existing foundation as a near-replica — but not before a big sendoff from a U.S. Navy band and a 40-millimeter, 21-gun salute.

These days, its light, which stands 63 feet above the water, is just 10 inches wide and solar-powered, but it still burns as a bright beacon of maritime history that you can actually visit. For $75, you essentially get a sunset cruise and a tour of the lighthouse, said East End Seaport Museum Executive Director Erin Kimmel.

On Saturdays, from now through October 25, the tour takes visitors from Greenport Harbor to the lighthouse and back with stories about the landmark — many from Bob Allen, the great-grandson of William H. Follett, the lighthouse keeper from 1912 until 1940. Best of all, the tour guides share the family’s photos along the way.

The two-hour excursion includes a scenic, 20-minute ride each way and an hour to get out and see inside the lighthouse yourself. Plus, you can bring a cooler of drinks and snacks along with you.

“It is one of the only affordable ways to get out on the water for both residents and tourists alike,” Kimmel said. “I’m so thrilled that we can offer such a magical experience to the public.”