Fire Island National Seashore ⓘ

On April 12, 1861, the opening shots on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina changed the world and lives of almost everyone. For the next four years, the bloodiest war in United States history was fought. In September of 1862, the war reached the William Floyd Estate. At that time the Old Mastic House was the home of William Floyd's great-grandson, John Gelston Floyd, Sr., and his wife Sarah. Their fourth child, John G. Floyd, Jr., enlisted and joined the Union army at Staten Island along with 27 other Long Island men, some from the Town of Brookhaven that John himself had recruited.

John G. Floyd, Jr. served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 145th New York Volunteer Regiment, Company G, which was organized at Staten Island, New York, and mustered in September 11, 1862.

After a period of outfitting and training, the 145th New York Regiment was prepared to deploy into battle.

We have arrived here at last- all right. The regiment left Staten Island on Saturday. We went through Philadelphia that night and reached Baltimore on Tuesday, Washington Sunday night and stayed there until Monday night. We marched up to see Stantons departure and were received by the president in person, a rare honor. President Lincoln has a ... look, rather care worn.

I write to you reposing on a real frame bedstand with bed clothes & sheets, or at least one sheet on it, & if you would know the reason for this ... luxury, it is that I have been detailed by the Major General Slocum, to the hazardous and responsible duty of commanding a party of carpenters at work on the hospital at Harpers Ferry...

In March 1863, John was detailed into Battery F of the 4th U. S. Artillery, where his commanding officer, Captain Franklin B. Cosby, was also his 2nd cousin.

You can follow the experiences of John G. Floyd, Jr. during these troubling times through his correspondence with family back home at Old Mastic. Check back as additional letters are posted throughout the year in 2013:

I did not forget last night that Sade was being married and I ate the cake you gave me, with my comrades, .... This morning an order came to have the Battery hitched up at day break and remain in readiness to move, and also to have three days rations issued to the new; we can not tell the meaning of these new orders, but they show that there is a possibility of moving soon; ....

We have just arrived here after a tiresome march from our last camp which we left on Saturday afternoon the 13th. after starting we were twenty four hours in the saddle, without sleep or much to eat, to night we will have a good sleep probably . Much of the army is here and it is reported that the whole army is coming now.

On January 6, 1864 Floyd was mustered out with an honorable discharge from the service, thus ending his military career.

Learn More about the Civil War sites and stories preserved and interpreted in the National Park Service.

In 1776 a 42 year-old William Floyd risked losing his family, farm, and life for signing the Declaration of Independence. William Floyd was the only man from New York's Suffolk County to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Of the four New Yorkers who signed the document, his is the only house still standing and open to the public.

Floyd inherited the Old Mastic House and 4,400 acres in 1755. He farmed a variety of crops including wheat, rye, oats, corn, and flax. The Floyds also raised livestock including sheep, cattle, and pigs. Floyd farmed his vast holdings with slaves, indentured servants, and free laborers.

Although he was primarily a farmer he did serve in local politics, and in the early 1770s received a colonel's commission in the Suffolk County Militia. In 1774 he was elected to the 1 st and 2nd Continental Congress, where he served until the end of the Revolutionary War. Floyd was married twice. He had 3 children by his first wife Hannah Jones who died in 1781 and 2 children with his second wife, Joanna Strong. After the War he went back to managing his plantation but continued to dabble in politics. He served as State Senator and was many times a presidential elector. He is one of the few Floyd's not buried in the family cemetery. He died when he was 86 in upstate New York and is buried in the Town of Westernville, where he had moved in 1803.

The William Floyd Estate , which was authorized as an addition to Fire Island National Seashore in 1965, is located on the mainland of Long Island. Two hundred and fifty years of history are preserved at the Estate. Visitors are welcome to explore the Estate grounds 9 AM - 4 PM year round. The Old Mastic House is open for tours from May through September. See our William Floyd Estate page for hours and tour availability.

Gilbert M. Smith, Master Boat Builder Born in Manorville on July 13, 1843, Gilbert M. Smith was employed in the shipping trade, sailing routes to Spain and Cuba before serving aboard Union Army supply vessels during the Civil War. He married Marion Terry of Riverhead in 1863 and earned a living as a bayman, duck hunter and guide before moving to the thriving port village of Patchogue in 1876.

During the late 19 th century Patchogue was the largest trading and industrial center in Suffolk County, providing opportunities of employment for men like Smith who began working at various boatyards around the Patchogue River while producing 12 to 16 foot catboats in his spare time for local baymen.

In 1876 Smith rented a shop on the Patchogue River to produce his catboats, which were gaining increasing notoriety among the south shore baymen. Reputed to be the fastest on the bay, Smith's work steadily increased, and in 1881, Smith moved his business to a larger boatyard where he crafted his catboats until he suffered a stroke in 1936.

It is estimated that the "master boat builder" of Patchogue crafted about 400 sailboats in his time, known for their beauty and speed. Smith died in 1940 at the age of 97, leaving the business to his son Asa. Some of Smith's work is preserved at the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville, the East Hampton Historical Society and the Bellport Historical Society.

Pre-Lighthouse Era on Fire Island: 1783-1824 After the American Revolutionary War, New York became one of the busiest ports in America. Many ships destined for New York sailed to port parallel to the southern coast of Long Island.

Fire Island was part of this shoreline, one in a series of gently sloping barrier beaches. With offshore sandbars lying six to nine feet below the surface and about a quarter mile from the shoreline, this area could be treacherous for ships. Most shipwrecks off the southern coast of Long Island hit the sandbar and snapped their masts. The rise and fall of the sea could then destroy their hull. Approximately 200 known and an estimated 640 unidentified ships wrecked off the coast of Fire Island since the mid-1600s.

On August 7, 1789, the federal government assumed jurisdiction over lighthouses, which had previously been administered separately by the states. Lighthouses were not present along the coast of Long Island prior to the change in jurisdiction.

The Montauk Point Lighthouse, constructed on the easternmost tip of Long Island in 1797, was the first federally funded lighthouse in the country and was the first of several lighthouses that would guide ships along the coastline into New York Harbor. The Fire Island Light, placed into service in 1826, was the second lighthouse along the coast of Long Island.

First Fire Island Lighthouse: 1825 - 1858 The first Fire Island Lighthouse was built on the western end of Fire Island and put into service in 1826. Constructed of Connecticut River blues split stone, the tower was octagonal in shape and 74 feet tall, tapering from a 32-foot diameter base to a diameter of 16 feet at its top. Its lantern room was 12 feet in diameter. With a focal plane (or height above sea level) of 89 feet, its light could be seen for about 10-14 nautical miles out to sea.

The Second Lighthouse is Constructed: 1857-1858 The The current Fire Island Lighthouse was completed in 1858, with a state-of-the-art revolving first order Fresnel lens produced in France by the Henry-Lepaute company. It was equipped with a first order hydraulic lamp, with 5 concentric wicks, and used Colza oil or whale oil. The 16-foot-tall, beehive-shaped glass and brass apparatus was rotated by means of a clockwork mechanism with flying pendulum. It emitted a 5-second flash once every minute. With a focal plane of 166 feet above sea level, this light could be seen from ships at least 21-23 nautical miles at sea.

This original first order Fresnel lens served as a beacon to mariners from the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse from 1858 through 1932. In 1933, it was taken out of service and displayed at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia until 2000.

The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS), a nonprofit organization which was instrumental in the preservation of the deteriorating Fire Island Lighthouse in the late 1970s, now operates visitor services at the site under a cooperating agreement with the National Park Service at Fire Island National Seashore. Since 2006, FILPS has also maintained the Fire Island Light as a private aid to navigation under an agreement with the United States Coast Guard.

FILPS is authorized as a fundraising partner to support maintenance and improvements at the Fire Island Lighthouse, and since 2005 has raised more than $500,000 for the construction of the new building to display and interpret Fire Island's original first order Fresnel lens.

.The 1858 Fire Island Lighthouse was originally a cream color. It didn't get its distinctive black and white daymarks until 1892.

When the present Fire Island Light began operation on November 1, 1858, it was illuminated by a state-of-the-art first order Fresnel lens, an intricate beehive-shaped mass of brass and glass prisms, rotating on a clockwork assembly. This lighting apparatus served as a beacon to mariners from the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse from 1858 to 1933. After an absence of 78 years, this Fresnel lens returned to Fire Island on March 8, 2011. It was unveiled in its new home on July 22, 2011.

The current Fire Island Lighthouse, completed in 1858 with a state-of-the-art revolving first order Fresnel lens and Funck hydraulic lamp using whale oil, had a focal plane of 166 feet above sea level, so that this light could be seen from ships at least 21 nautical miles at sea. This was a part of a national initiative to improve maritime safety. It is significant today as a symbol of the commercial and maritime heritage of the United States, and the evolution of communication and navigational technologies. The Fresnel lens helps tell that story.

This original first order Fresnel lens, an intricate beehive-shaped mass of brass and glass prisms, served as a beacon to mariners from the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse from 1858 to 1933. After being taken out of service, it was displayed at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia from 1939 to 2000.

A "Return of the Lens" has long been envisioned. In 1986, Fire Island National Seashore (FINS) identified the lens as an important artifact that was envisioned for inclusion in the park's cultural history collection. When the lens was slated for removal from the Franklin Institute in 2000, FINS and FILPS began formal discussions with USCG for the transfer of the object to the National Park Service (NPS) on a long-term, renewable loan. By 2001, more than 30 crates of the disassembled lens were being stored by the NPS, awaiting construction of a suitable display facility.

On March 8, 2011, the Fire Island Light Station's first lighting apparatus - now more than 150 years old - made its way back to Fire Island...still in crates. Its future home, an intriguing new building designed specifically to display the impressive 16-foot-tall artifact, was completed and opened to the public in 2011.

The Fresnels Lens Building is open during regular hours for the Fire Island Lighthouse, which is operated by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. There is no charge to enter the Fresnel Lens Building, but an interpretive fee is collected for lighthouse tower tours. Plan your Fire Island Lighthouse visit.

The Fire Island Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 1981. Learn more about the history of Fire Island .

The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (FILPS), a nonprofit organization which was instrumental in the preservation of the deteriorating Fire Island Lighthouse in the late 1970s, now operates visitor services at the site under a cooperating agreement with the National Park Service at Fire Island National Seashore. Since 2006, FILPS has also maintained the Fire Island Light as a private aid to navigation under an agreement with the United States Coast Guard.

FILPS is authorized as a fundraising partner to support maintenance and improvements at the Fire Island Lighthouse, and has helped raise funds to keep the Fire Island Light shining.

There are conflicting views as to the origin of the name Fire Island. The island may have been named after Fire Island Inlet, which appeared on a deed in 1789, and the inlet’s name may have started as a simple spelling error. The number of inlet islands has varied over time, and it is likely that “five” or the Dutch word “vier,” meaning four, was misspelled on early maps as “fire.” According to one hypothesis, the name is a corruption of the Five Islands patented by William Nicholls in 1688 in what is now the western end of Fire Island.

Under another hypothesis, the name originates from the fires reportedly set by pirates to lure vessels to shore. Fire Island Beach appeared on charts in the 1850s, and folklore suggests the name arose from land-based pirates, or “wreckers,” who built beach fires at night to lure cargo ships onto shore.

Some say poison ivy gave Fire Island its name, either for its red leaves in autumn or its fiery itch.

Regardless of whether any of these hypotheses are true, the name Fire Island has long been applied to the western part of Fire Island. The more easterly part of the barrier island was known as Great South Beach until about 1920, when common usage extended the Fire Island name to the rest of the island.

On February 6th 1922, the Bessie A. White , a four-masted Canadian coal schooner, was traveling from Newport News, Virginia to St. John, New Brunswick. As a dense fog rolled in, the schooner struck a sandbar hard, causing the ship to begin taking on water. Despite the efforts of the 20 men aboard, the Bessie White became stranded along the shore of Fire Island opposite the Smiths Point Coast Guard station, which unfortunately had just been deactivated. As the crew launched lifeboats to escape to safety, Seaman James Rynburgh struck his head on a stanchion and fell unconscious into the surf. Rynburgh was rescued by his crewmates who then carried him eight miles to the Bellport Coast Guard Station for medical attention. While there were no other casualties, the ship and its cargo were a total loss.

The rights to the wreckage were soon purchased by Foster Stills and Harry Paine of Patchogue, who oversaw the salvage and distribution of key components of the ship. The engine was returned to the manufacturer, while the four masts were distributed to towns across the east end of Long Island for use as flagpoles. Like other wrecks along Fire Island’s shores, salvage operations were challenged by theft and the constant tide. A dory full of movable equipment, including the ship’s compass, was stolen one night during stormy weather and rough waves. On one occasion, men working on the salvage were rescued after getting trapped aboard the wreck during high tide.

While salvaging what they could from the ship, Stills and Paine explored the possibility of selling the wreck to a film production company, with the idea that it could be blown up to provide some realism for “some movie thriller.” Negotiations fell-through, however, and the remainder of the ship's hull was abandoned to the sand and the tide.

The remaining wreckage sat just 400 feet from the shore and could easily be walked onto during low tide, making it a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike. And, while the wreckage did eventually sink into the shifting sands of the Great South Beach, we know this is not the end of the story of the Bessie A. White .

What brings the Bessie White into Fire Island lore is what is believed to be the presence of a large part of the ship's hull within the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, near Long Cove. The weathered expanse of wood and nail were unearthed and became completely visible in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy. As wind and waves shape the beach, the ship's skeleton is covered and uncovered, periodically unearthing large portions of the fascinating artifact. While the remains are thought to be the Bessie White, it is difficult to say with any certainty that it is indeed part of the almost one hundred year old schooner.

The uncovering of this wreckage following Hurricane Sandy made national headlines. Despite the sudden uproar of media attention, the appearance of the Bessie White from the carved out dunes of a Fire Island beach surprised few long-time island visitors. This was not the first storm to uncover the wreck. In fact, the Bessie White was a regular beach goer, appearing often every few years following powerful winter storms.

What makes this artifact so special is not necessarily the story behind the wreck, its salvage, or its discovery. What makes it special is its relative accessibility. Just hike a few miles from Watch Hill, a popular visitor site within the National Seashore, and you might catch a glimpse of the wreck yourself. Be aware, she does like to play hide and seek.

The Bessie White , then, helps visitors connect to the Island’s long and rich maritime history. And, when the bones of the ship poke out from beneath a dune, history becomes real as stories are told through the wood and iron of its hull.

When what is believed to be the wreck of the Bessie A. White reappeared on the sandy face of Fire Island in 2021, she presented the National Seashore with an interesting dilemma. How can we balance preservation, education, and scientific exploration? Is there value in studying the wreck in the place where it sank instead of in a lab, even when leaving it in place can contribute to its loss?

Immediately, there were fears that the wreck could begin breaking apart. While the story of the Bessie A. White is typical of other wrecks along the shore of Fire Island, it is neither remarkable enough to preserve in a museum, nor mundane enough to remove. So, what opportunities did this wreck present?

That year Fire Island National Seashore and the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center became involved in an exciting new program to mark and track shipwrecks. Developed by the Florida Public Archeology Network , or “FPAN”. The Shipwreck Tagging and Archeological Management Program, or STAMP , is a public engagement program focused on documenting and monitoring shipwreck sites and disarticulated shipwreck timbers, utilizing citizen science to better document and understand these historic features.

With the help of FPAN and the new STAMP program, Fire Island National Seashore Rangers worked with curatorial staff to affix special STAMP tags to various parts of the shipwreck. These STAMPS include unique QR codes which allow visitors to input photographs, GPS coordinates and other data into the STAMP database, allowing the National Park Service and FPAN to monitor the site in order to see how it changes over time.

As citizen scientists, visitors can now both enjoy the wreck, and contribute to our understanding of its evolution. The resulting data will give us a glimpse, not only into the shipwreck's change over time, but also into the evolution of Fire Island, as the natural forces of storms, wind, and waves work to very slowly move the wreck year after year. This data may also be used in the future to help track down other shipwrecks in waters across the United States!

The wreck of the Bessie A. White provides us with so many unique opportunities. From the opportunity to engage with and enjoy our maritime history, to the opportunity to better understand the natural evolution of shipwrecks, the Bessie White is truly unique in its own right.

As the Bessie once again returns to its sandy grave, we wait eagerly for its next appearance. Here’s to 100 years!

The Elizabeth was one of the most publicized shipwrecks preceding the founding of the United States Lifesaving Service. The 530-ton vessel wrecked in a summer storm off of what is now the Point O'Woods area on July 19, 1850. The Elizabeth was sailing from Italy, carrying a cargo that included marble, silks, oils, and soaps, with five passengers and a crew of fourteen.

The Elizabeth was particularly memorable because of the high-profile passengers who perished in the wreck. Ten people ultimately lost their lives; most notable among them was Margaret Fuller, a noted author, scholar and feminist, and one of the few women known among her male literary peers, who included Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

After a week at sea, the captain of the Elizabeth fell ill and died of smallpox. The ship was left in the hands of an inexperienced first mate. At 3:30 a.m. on July 19 the ship struck a sand bar sending the cargo of marble through the ship's side and flooding the hold. Some passengers and crew abandoned ship and swam for shore. Others, including Fuller and her husband and son went down with the ship, drowning as a few volunteer lifesavers attempted to throw lines out to the ship.

Many more curious onlookers focused their efforts on combing the beach for the valuable cargo washing up. Forty people were later found guilty of stripping the wreck. Margaret Fuller's death, due to the loss of the Elizabeth , was publicized by her fellow authors, adding to the increased pressure to reform lifesaving measures.

When Point O'Woods was founded as a summer resort fifty years later, a bronze plaque was erected to commemorate the wreck and Fuller's death. Ten years later the plaque washed away into the sea.

The wreck of the Louis V. Place is one of the best known wrecks that occurred on Fire Island. The small schooner carrying a cargo of coal from Baltimore to New York stranded on a sand bar east of the Lone Hill lifesaving station in the icy conditions of February 1895. The small crew of eight men faced days of difficulty early in their journey. By February 5 heavy weather began to cause the Place's sails, rigging, and hull to ice up. By the 7th the ship would essentially be what was described as a "drifting iceberg." The near frozen ship stranded on February 8.

The Lone Hill crew spotted it first and telephoned for assistance. Two adjacent stations were already working to rescue a ship, the John B. Manning, which had stranded several hours earlier between the Lone Hill and Blue Point stations, about a mile away from the Place . Lifesavers from the Lone Hill station were joined by the Blue Point and Point O'Woods crew. Unfortunately they quickly realized that ice and strong waves made it impossible to launch a rescue boat; the Place's crew would have to be rescued by the breeches buoy.

USLSS crew fired the Lyle gun but the hypothermic and frostbitten crew on the Place was unable to retrieve the line due to hypothermia. By this time two men, Captain William Squires and the cook, Charlie Morrison, had fallen from the rigging where the men had taken shelter from the freezing water. Other rescue attempts were unsuccessful. Lifesavers waited until morning when they found only two of the four remaining men on board were still alive. By midnight of the second day they were able to launch a rescue boat and retrieve the two men, 40 hours after the boat first became stranded.

Six crew members perished during the rescue efforts, two were rescued, only one survived. Eight plots were placed in the Lakeview Cemetery in Patchogue for the lost sailors, but only four are buried there, Gustave Jaiby, Charles Allen, August Olson and Fritz Oscar Ward.

CSS Tallahassee departed Wilmington, NC on August 6, 1864 bound for the North Atlantic coast. The Tallahassee arrived in the Long Island area on August 11, and quickly went into action disrupting merchant traffic. The first captured vessel was the pilot-boat James Finch which the Tallahassee was able to lure by flying a Union Flag. Tallahassee crew members boarded the James Finch and began operating it as a pilot-boat to lure other unsuspecting vessels waiting to be taken into New York Harbor. After a vessel was captured with the James Finch, the Tallahassee would appear and Commander Wood would demand bond be paid or the vessel would be destroyed. By the end of first day, six vessels were victims to the raid with five of them being destroyed.

The Tallahassee remained in the New York area for the next couple of days, continuing to capture and destroy vessels. The Tallahassee eventually made its way to Halifax, Nova Scotia where coal was refilled. With Union ships in pursuit, John Taylor Wood headed back to Wilmington, NC. Upon his return on August 26th, he became a hero to Southerners.

The CSS Tallahassee was constructed by the Dugeon Brothers of England in 1863 and was classified as a twin screw. Twin-screw vessels were originally developed for the opium trade in China but were used effectively as blockade runners for the South. The Tallahassee was converted into a second class gunboat, retrofitted with a 100-pounder rifle, 32-pounder rifle, 30-pounder Parrot rifle and a brass howitzer, and was officially commissioned by the Confederate States Navy in July 1864. The CSS Tallahassee remained in active service until it was brought to Liverpool, England shortly before the War ended in April 1865.

The Land at Mastic This Floyd family originated in Brecknockshire, Wales. The founder of the family in America, Richard Floyd (ca. 1620-1690), first appeared in American records in the late 1660s as a leading landowner on the North Shore of Long Island, first in Huntington, then in Setauket.

A half-century later, in 1718, his son Richard Floyd II (1665-1738), bought over 4,400 acres of property from William "Tangier" Smith of the Manor of Saint George. The property stretched six miles north from Moriches Bay and approximately one mile west from the Mastic or Forge River. It included use rights for the Great South Beach on what is now Fire Island. Richard Floyd II gave this property to his youngest son, Nicoll Floyd (1703-1755).

The first Floyd to live on the estate, Nicoll Floyd built the first portion of the "Old Mastic House" in 1724, constructing a two-story, six-room shingled wood frame house. He developed the land into a prosperous plantation, using both slave and free laborers to raise grain, flax, sheep, and cattle. Nicoll Floyd expanded the home as his wealth and his family grew. Nicoll Floyd's oldest son, William Floyd (1734-1821) inherited the property in 1755 at the age of 20.

William Floyd became an important plantation owner and was active in local politics. In 1774, he was a delegate from New York in the First Continental Congress. As a member of the Second Continental Congress, 41-year-old William Floyd was the first of the New York delegates to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. After the Revolutionary War, William Floyd (who was in exile from 1777 to 1783) moved back to Mastic, and enlarged the house, making it suitable for entertaining such national leaders as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Floyd moved from Long Island to Westernville, New York, in 1803, where he died in 1821, leaving the Mastic property to his son Nicoll Floyd II (1762-1852).

Subsequent owners included John G. Floyd, Sr. (1806-1881), John G. Floyd, Jr. (1841-1903), and Cornelia Floyd Nichols (1882-1977).

These next generations of Floyds continued to operate the plantation and kept the land intact until the 1870s. As the family's business interests shifted from agriculture to politics and other business activities centered in the New York City area, the lands were used for outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing. During this time approximately 2,200 acres of the property were sold. In 1881, the remaining 2,200 acres was divided among five brothers and sisters, four of whom used their property for summer homes and winter hunting trips. The Old Mastic House was inherited by William Floyd's great-great-granddaughter, Cornelia Floyd, who lived on the property with her children and grandchildren, and donated it to the National Park Service.

From 1724 to 1976, eight generations of the Floyd family lived in the Old Mastic House and loved this land.

Maritime History Fire Island's maritime history precedes colonization of Long Island. Native Americans hunted and fished in the vicinity long before Colonial settlements were established. The economy and life patterns of residents have centered around the Great South Bay and Fire Island since the area was first settled.

The whaling industry, the era of the U. S. Life Saving Service, shipwrecks, habitation of the island, and the local fishing industry are some of the stories you may learn about at the Fire Island Lighthouse.

Fire Island also has a long heritage of waterfowl hunting and shellfishing on the Great South Bay.

Fire Island Communities Seventeen communities had been developed on Fire Island before the establishment of the park. When Fire Island National Seashore was established in 1964, its enabling legislation stated that these communities and preexisting commercial uses would be allowed to remain, as long as development was consistent with specific zoning standards.

William Floyd Estate Fire Island National Seashore also includes the ancestral home of one of New York's four signers of the Declaration of Independence : the William Floyd Estate . Here you may learn about 250 years of family history, including the family, the land, and the house - and how it evolved through the centuries. As the nation reflects on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War (1861-1865), we find there are connections to Fire Island National Seashore. William Floyd's great-grandson served in the Civil War, and his first-hand accounts are shared through letters back home to Old Mastic. Learn more about the Floyds' connection to the Civil War .

Fire Island National Seashore consists of 26 miles of the 32-mile long barrier island called Fire Island. The seashore encompasses 19,579 acres of marine and terrestrial property within its boundaries, including Smith Point County Park, located at the eastern end of the island, and 17 communities that pre-dated the Seashore's establishment. Several bay islands, sand flats, and wetlands north of the of the barrier island lie within the seashore's boundary. Approximately 15,000 acres are submerged in the Great South Bay or Atlantic Ocean.

Join a park ranger or partner led program or the Biennial Science Conference to learn more about the natural features on Fire Island and at the William Floyd Estate.

Unique resources include the Sunken Forest, a federal wilderness area, and eel grass beds. The Sunken Forest on Fire Island is a 16 hectare maritime holly forest occurring behind the secondary dune, one of only a few mature maritime forests in the New York area and the northernmost holly-dominated maritime forest on the Atlantic barrier island chain.

Both federal and New York State endangered species either breed or germinate in the park, along with eleven other species of concern.

The William Floyd Estate , a unit of Fire Island National Seashore located across Great South Bay on the Long Island mainland, is quite different from the Seashore's barrier island habitat. The William Floyd Estate is 65% forested, 25% wetlands including salt marsh, 5% open space, and 5% developed around the estate house area. Wildlife found here include the eastern box turtle, spring peeper tree frog, white-tailed deer, great horned owl, and a variety of water birds and songbirds.

Researchers and resource specialists study Fire Island's natural systems - from long-term change in shoreline position to the population dynamics of Eastern box turtles at the William Floyd Estate and more. Fire Island National Seashore hosts a Biennial Science Conference to provide an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the fascinating research that takes place on Fire Island and at the William Floyd Estate. Learn more about conducting research at Fire Island National Seashore.

The National Park Service is mandated to preserve and protect the natural resources, processes, systems, and values of the units of the National Park System in an unimpaired condition to perpetuate their inherent integrity and to provide present and future generations with the opportunity to enjoy them. Fire Island National Seashore's natural resources are managed according to the criteria found in the National Park Service Management Policies .

Before you head out to go birdwatching at Fire Island National Seashore , e-mail us to request a birding checklist.

During fall migration, you can join Fire Island Raptor Enumerators , a group of dedicated individuals who collect data and keep records on the numbers of raptors and their flight patterns in this region, to watch the fall migration of raptors from the raptor-viewing platform just east of Robert Moses State Park, Field 5. National parks provide important habitat for resident, migratory, and threatened and endangered bird species. Learn more about migratory birds in national parks and threatened and endangered species , like Piping Plover , at Fire Island.

A Diversity of Bird Species More than 330 species of birds have been recorded on Fire Island, more than 1/3 of all species found in North America. Fire Island is without a doubt one of the best birding locations in the New York area, particularly during the spring and fall migrations.

Located along the Atlantic migratory flyway, Fire Island plays host to a wide variety of both migratory and resident bird species. The island's rich mosaic of forest, dune, and marsh habitats offers feeding and nesting opportunities for a wide array of shorebirds , songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and waders.

Fire Island National Seashore is one of more than 40 National Park Service sites that are recognized as "Globally Important Bird Areas" by conservation organizations. The Seashore's Atlantic coastline is a part of the American Bird Conservancy's designated Long Island Piping Plover Nesting Beaches.

The plant life of Fire Island is diverse and reflects the great variation in such environmental factors as wind, salinity, the availability of soil moisture,and the extent of human activity. Many habitats, like the beach and primary dune face, are so severe that only a few plant species can survive. However, just a few feet away in a more protected habitat, many species may thrive.

When the park was surveyed in 1971 and 1974, fourteen major vegetation types or subtypes were identified on Fire Island. These included the beach grass grasslands, beach heather and bearberry dwarf scrubs, thickets, pitch pine woodland, broadleaf forest, and a variety of wetlands and salt marsh. Vegetation recorded at that time for the William Floyd Estate included upland forests, lowland forests, thickets, upland meadow, cultivated fields, residential land, common reed grassland, and tidal marsh.

In recent years, more advanced classification and recording systems have been adopted to help us better understand plant species associations. More than 30 vegetation associations were mapped for Fire Island National Seashore by 2002.

At least 237 plant species have been identified within the Seashore. The casual observer, however, may only be interested in knowing a few of the most obvious plants.

Plants on the Primary Dune Onshore winds desiccate vegetation on the oceanfront dunes and periodically mist the vegetation with salt spray. Roots and underground stems of beach grass ( Ammophila breviligulata ) and a few other plant species stabilize dunes. Leaves and aerial stems of plants trap wind-blown sand, which may eventually engulf and cover low vegetation.

Eventually a dynamic equilibrium becomes established: the plants help stabilize the dunes and the vegetated dunes ameliorate the harsh environmental conditions for plants growing behind the dunes.

The diversity of plant species generally increases with distance from the ocean and the density of cover.

Common Plants of the Interdunal Swale and Dune Shrubland Wooly beachheather ( Hudsonia tomentosa ) and seaside goldenrod ( Solidago sempervirens ) are early colonizing plants behind the dunes. On backdunes, dunelets, secondary dunes and in swales, shrubs grow with many other species of herbaceous plants. Dense thickets of beach plum ( Prunus maritima ), northern bayberry ( Myrica pensylvanica ), Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia ), and poison ivy ( Toxicodendrum radicans ) form behind dunes.

Monarch butterflies can fill the sky over Fire Island on fall migration. Learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Nineteen species of marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and seals, have been recorded at Fire Island National Seashore. Learn more!

Evidence of life beneath the surface of the sea can be found on Fire Island. Learn more about shellfish like scallops, clams, and mussels.

White-tailed deer, red fox, and rabbits - oh my! Find out which mammals make their home on Fire Island.

Fire Island National Seashore provides diverse marine and terrestrial habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife. Every season is a good season to view Fire Island wildlife and you may be able to observe many of these animals during your excursion in the park. Some animals are seldom seen but are vital components of a healthy natural ecosystem.

One of the most exciting times to view wildlife on Fire Island is during migration. In September and October, thousands of birds and monarchs make a temporary home on the barrier beach as they rest and refuel along their southbound journey. Fire Island's sandy shores, thicket, forest, and marsh provide diverse habitat for these travelers, and the island's place along the Atlantic Flyway make it an attractive stopover for more than one-third of North America's bird species.

In winter, you may see snowy owls scanning open habitat for their small mammal prey or encounter seals hauled out on the beach. Red fox and white-tailed deer can also be observed year-round.

Whether you come to see land animals or marvel at marine life , please do so from a safe distance and help keep wildlife wild .

Sandy Shoreline Fire Island's beaches are composed mainly of white quartz sand of varying grain size. Occasional layers of heavy mineral sands-which include grains of garnet and magnetite-appear as colored bands among the predominantly white sediment. There are also small amounts of feldspar, tourmaline, mica, and other minerals. Occasionally, you will find pebbles or fragments of shell on the beach. Find and share photos of Fire Island's gorgeous sandy beaches on social media, or dig into the Sorting Sand lesson plan.

Beaches are most dynamic where the waves wash up over the course of a daily tidal cycle, constantly moving sand up and down the beach and along the shoreline through the actions of the crashing waves and longshore transport. Further up the beach, the berm, which is generally above the daily reach of the tides, will change under conditions where waves reach higher on the beach. Even storms that remain far offshore can increase the wave energy enough to erode the beach and move sand temporarily offshore. Sand that is removed from the beach is stored offshore, usually in a structure called an offshore bar. At low tide, you may be able to see evidence of an offshore bar by the presence of a secondary line of breaking or choppy waves past where the waves are breaking and washing up on shore. The size and shape of the beach is always changing. While sediment is constantly being moved more or less perpendicular to or from the shoreline by tidal and wave action, the net movement of sediment is along Fire Island's coast, parallel to the shore through the effects of longshore currents. The movement of sediment along the shoreline is called longshore sediment transport and resulted in extension of the western terminus of the island.

Sometimes a day trip to the seashore just isn’t enough! Taking in a sunset, falling asleep under the stars, and waking to the sound of crashing waves is an immersive way to connect with the seashore landscape and create lasting memories with friends and family. Ready to pack up your tent and go on a seaside adventure? Read on to learn about the two camping options offered at Fire Island National Seashore and tips on how to have a pleasant and successful camping trip!

Trailer and tent camping is available at Smith Point County Park , which is located east of the Otis Pike Wilderness Area. Smith Point is reachable by personal vehicle. Call 631-852-1340 or visit their website for more information.

There are other camping options a short drive from Fire Island that are managed by New York State or Suffolk County. See their camping websites below for more information:

Tips for a fun and safe camping trip Be weather-ready. Check an extended weather forecast before your trip and be prepared for fast-changing conditions. Plan your ferry ride. If you’re taking the ferry, check the ferry schedule to plan your arrival and departure times. No campfires. Open ground fires are prohibited – bring a camp stove or use grills in campground for cooking. Keep food safe from critters. Secure your food and clean up after cooking– animals are curious and are attracted to food smells. Be sure to secure your food in a cooler or storage box and clean up after cooking. Plan to carry in your supplies. Campers will have to carry in all supplies and gear some distance to reach the Watch Hill campground (0.3 miles) or backcountry camping zones (1-2 miles or more). Wagons are subject to ferry freight fees . Wagons are a poor option for lugging supplies over beach sand and are prohibited in the backcountry. Backcountry campers should haul their gear in a backpack and carry additional water jugs by hand. Be prepared for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance for Fire Island campers from late spring until late fall. They are prevalent in areas north of the primary dune during warm-weather months, hatching in cycles that relate to moon phase. Campers from late-June until the end of October should plan to encounter mosquitoes and prepare accordingly. Campers can take precautions by safely applying insect repellents, wearing bug net garments, covering bare skin, and avoiding outdoor activities during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Learn more about avoiding mosquitoes. Avoid poison ivy. Poison ivy is prevalent in vegetation between the ocean-facing dunes and the bay-side marshes. Stay on paths and out of brushy areas. Learn more about avoiding poison ivy. Check for ticks. Ticks can be found in vegetation throughout Fire Island. Learn to identify ticks and perform daily checks. Learn more about avoiding ticks. Protect yourself from the sun. There is little shade found in the Watch Hill campground or in the wilderness backcountry. Campers should wear hats, cover arms and legs, and regularly apply sunscreen. Learn more about sun protection. More Information Safety First – Ensure a safe visit to Fire Island National Seashore Otis Pike Wilderness Backcountry Camping Information General information on Backcountry Camping General Information on Camping

Camping in the Otis Pike Wilderness backcountry is not like camping in traditional campground -- it is dispersed, primitive camping with no designated sites, water, bathrooms or other campground services. Backcountry camping requires planning and carrying in all necessary supplies to have a fun and successful trip. See the Backcountry Camping page for more information.

Visiting for history, recreation, or solitude? Check out the areas on Fire Island and Long Island managed by the National Park Service.