Funds for the lighthouse were approved by United States Congress on August 31, 1852 and the structure was completed in 1856.

The original beacon was a second-order range lens showing a fixed red light that shined 192 feet (59 m) above sea level.

In 1939 a sixth-order range lens was installed, showing a fixed white light.

The lighthouse and land were neglected and vandalized for ten years until being sold at auction to a Staten Island resident named John Vokral for $32,000 in 1974.

Vokral did extensive restoration work on the lighthouse, which now serves as a private residence.