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The three-year restoration of the National Historic Landmark began in May and involves repairing cracks and bulges on the 111-foot lighthouse tower.
The work calls for making repairs to the metal and glass at the top of the tower, and stripping the paint off the limestone exterior of the tower, then allowing it to dry out," said Nick Racanelli, who serves on the Montauk Historical Society's Montauk Lighthouse Committee.
The lighthouse is privately owned by the nonprofit historical society.
"We have cracking and bulging and at the top of the lantern, all the metals are rusting. So while the lighthouse is well built and is structurally sound, it needs, in layman's terms, a major makeover," Racanelli said.
Authorized by the Second Congress in 1792, under President George Washington, construction began on June 7, 1796, and was completed on November 5, 1796.
The lighthouse provides 360° views of Block Island Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.
The lighthouse and museum will remain open during the restoration, as will the gift shop.
"Gate sales and the gift shop bring in the revenue needed to run the lighthouse but this is a restoration," Racanelli said.
The historical society has applied for a grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which if awarded will cover about one-third of the $1.1 million restoration cost.
The organization has raised about $50,000 and will seek corporate sponsorships for remaining funding, Racanelli said.
"Gate (ticket) sales and the gift shop is how we finance the lighthouse," he continued.
"Over 100,000 people visit the lighthouse every year," Racanelli said.
The project's second phase involves making repairs to the masonry and mortar joints, and the tower will be repainted in phase three. The work completion is expected in 2021.
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