Rondout lighthouse at at Kingston, New York is the third structure build at this location to guide ships up and down the Hudson River.  The first and second lighthouses, built in 1837 and 1867, respectively succumbed to the elements and the obsolesence that comes with time.  The present lighthouse was first lighted in August 1915 and was automated in 1954, after which the structure was unattended into the 1990's.  The Hudson River Maritime Museum entered into a long-term lease of Rondout Lighthouse from the USCG the term of which is through 2016.  Beginning in 1988 a cooperative arrangement between the Museum and the town of Kingston began the long process of restoring Rondout Lighthouse to preserve it for the future.  Thus museum is now raising funds to restore the interior rooms to a 1930-1940 period replica status with period furniture.  The Museum conducts tours of the lighthouse and the Rip van Winkle Sightseeing cruises that operate on the Hudson River pass both the Rondout and Esopus Meadows lighthouses.  The Rondout Light is best seen from the water but a distant view of the lighthouse can be had from near the corner of 3rd St and Parsell St. in Sleightsburg, which is just across the bridge over the river to the south of Kingston, where the photographs below were shot from.