St. George on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
National Lighthouse Museum
The Vaults
The Museum's hidden treasure.
The six brick and stone masonry vaults were constructed in 1864 to hold the volatile materials, including fuel that was used in the lighthouses; whale oil, lard, mineral oil and later kerosene.
Five of the vaults are 51' long, 21' wide, and over 13' tall. Earth fill and vegetation cover the vaults, but at the turn of the century they were covered by grass and one of the first tennis courts in the USA.
Brick arches form the ceilings of the vaults, and offer a wide range of museum uses for these unusual spaces, including "immersion" exhibits that would allow visitors to experience the lighthouse of the world through media projection. Other possible uses include a cafι/beer garden and a reconstruction of the historic fuel storage facilities.
Experimental Lighthouse
The Romer Shoal Lighthouse in lower New York Bay was first built as the Staten Island Lighthouse Depot and used as an experimental facility to test out new lights, lenses and other materials. It was dismantled and moved to its current location in 1898. It has been declared redundant by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Museum hopes to have it moved to the Lighthouse Plaza and restored.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 38.517′ N, 74° 4.445′ W. Marker was on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It was in St. George. It was on Promenade at Lighthouse Point 0.1 miles east of Bay Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 5A Borough Pl, Staten Island NY 10301, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in New York City. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in North America and the Western World. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); a different
Other markers no longer nearby. The Barracks (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Administration Building (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The 1907 Lamp Shop (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Maritime New York (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . National Lighthouse Museum. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 13, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 370 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
