U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who lobbied Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on the lighthouse's behalf, made the announcement. It has taken more than six years to obtain the designation.
Newsday reported Monday (http://bit.ly/yIEumb) that the Montauk Historical Society hopes to have a party this summer to celebrate the designation, which will make it easier to apply for federal funds and will give the lighthouse a top priority for aid in case of a natural disaster, such as the hurricanes and storms that threaten to erode its foundation.
The lighthouse and its museum are closed for the winter but will reopen to the public on weekends beginning March 17.
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