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Old Whaler's Church

New York, US

Old Whaler's Church

First Presbyterian Church in Sag Harbor, New York, also known as Old Whaler's Church, is a historic and architecturally notable Presbyterian church built in 1844 in the Egyptian Revival style. The church is Sag Harbor's "most distinguished landmark." The facade has been described as "the most import

ant (surviving) example of Egyptian revival style in the United States," and "the best example of the Egyptian Revival style in the U.S. today. The church was designed by Minard Lafever in an Egyptian Revival style that includes Greek Revival elements. With its original steeple, 185 feet high, it was the tallest structure on Long Island when built. The steeple was destroyed by the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. Although many lament the loss, architectural historian Richard Carrot believes that the removal of the steeple was "successful", in that it left "a more 'Egyptian' building." The church is located at 44 Union Street, within the historic Sag Harbor Village District, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994. It is the only such landmark in Sag Harbor.

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