Telescope Hill

At 102 meters (335 feet), Telescope Hill is the highest point in the Town of Brookhaven on Long Island. Geologically, the hill is part of the Ronkonkoma Moraine, which marks the spot where the glacier that shaped Long Island ended its advance. The site is historically known for its fire lookout tower, which operated from 1918 to 1959. The tower, originally 60 feet tall, was used to spot forest fires and offered visitors sweeping views across the landscape. During World War II, it was also used for civil defense, to watch for submarines. After the fire towers were decommissioned in 1960, the summit now houses radio equipment, including the transmitter for WALK-FM.