Montauk

Montauk is a hamlet located within the town of East Hampton on Long Island, New York. Inhabited for over 4,000 years, the location has a rich history in Native American culture as well as European culture.

Native Americans have lived in the Montauk area for over 4,000 years. Farmers who grazed cattle on the peninsula built the Old Montauk Highway in the 1700s. It was President George Washington who authorized the building of the lighthouse in 1792. All of Montauk was purchased in 1879 by Arthur Benson for the sum of $151,000. 20th century developer Carl Fischer tried to make a name for Montauk as the "Miami Beach of the North". However, his plans were hampered by the stock market crash of 1929. Montauk is a popular tourist spot today, as well as home to the largest commercial fishing fleet in New York state.Montauk Chamber of Commerce: The History of Montauk

In August 2008 several photographs surfaces of a strange animal that supposedly washed up on the shores of Montauk's beach. Just as mysteriously as the photographs appeared, the dead animal's carcass disappeared. A few witnesses came forward, but experts could not agree on what type of animal it was. Theories surfaced online, claiming the animal was a pig, a raccoon, a dog and even a genetic experiment from Plum Island.FOX News: 'Montauk Monster' Mystery Gets More Mysterious (August 4, 2008) Newsday.com: 'Montauk Monster' witnesses emerge (August 1, 2008)