About 35 miles from Times Square, Great Captains Island Light is one of the 3 lighthouses marking the entrance into the East River to New York City. The other two are Great Execution Rock Light and Stepping Stones Light.

The light on Great captain Island (40N59, 73W27) was automated in 1970 and moved to a metal pipe nearby. The town of Greenwich owns this island. The island spans approximately 17 acres, with a picnic area, beaches and a lagoon that attacts boaters. Legend has it that Captain Kidd's (a well known pirat) treasure was buried here. In 1920 a private enterprise built an exclusive beach club and casino, which burned inexplicably in 1947. The owners filed suit against the Coast Guard saying that a flare was dropped on the casino while the search for some downed pilots was in progress. In 1951, the Coast Guard paid up to the tune of $20.000. For many years, the Aerotec Corporation of Greenwich owned the island and made it available to their employees for holidays. By 1973, the town of Greenwich had bought the entire island. According to early history, Captain Daniel Patrick was in charge of defending Greenwich and its offshore island from Petuquapaen Indians (1643). Apparently, he felt he did an outstanding job and decided to name the island after himself. (In the years the name changed from Captains Patrick Isl., first in only Patrick's Isl and later on only in Captain's Islands, for the two islands.)The original light was built in 1829, along with a keeper's cottage, on the southeast end of the island. A second light, built of Captains Rock, 3 cables offshore, was errected in 1868, abandoned today. The main island light had a 4-man staff that kept it going 24 hours unitl 1970 when it was automated.