Backstory: Moving the Montauk Coast Guard Station at Sea

Towing the Coast Guard station, March, 1955
Dan’s Papers

The Montauk Coast Guard Station, a big four-square three-story clapboard building, sits on the shore of Star Island facing out to the boats in Montauk Harbor. It hasn’t always been there, however. Originally, 100 years ago, it was built 10 miles from Star Island, on the ocean beach at Napeague halfway between Montauk and…

Backstory: The History of the Montauk Manor

Original Montauk Manor Playhouse, circa 1930
Dan’s Papers

The Montauk Manor, high on Fort Hill overlooking the downtown of Montauk, was built in 1927 as the first of what were intended to be four hotels scattered around Montauk. Carl Fisher, the developer of Miami Beach, could do that because he’d bought the entire peninsula of Montauk two years earlier, intending to create…

Backstory: Montauk’s Leisurama History

A view of the Leisurama Exhibition at the Carl Fisher House in Montauk
Dan’s Papers

There was a time that you could buy a brand new house in Montauk for just $12,990. The year was 1963. About 200 people paid to get one. And all got built, side by side as a housing development at Culloden Shores. Many still stand, though most have had additions put onto them. You…