Hudson Athens Lighthouse

The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse was constructed in the 1870s to aid ships navigating the hazardous Middle Ground Flats on the Hudson River. Since being automated in the 1950s, the lighthouse has been maintained by the United States Coast Guard. In 1982, the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed to restore, maintain, and operate the lighthouse for public benefit. The society signed a 20-year lease with the U.S. Coast Guard in 1984 and officially became the sole owner in 2000. The society's purposes include maintaining the lighthouse museum, providing public access, preserving the structure, and encouraging artistic use of the site. The lighthouse has a rich history, with several keepers and notable rescues, and has been restored to represent life in the 1930s.