New Jersey - Sandy Hook Lighthouse

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is located on the grounds of Fort Hancock, NJ. This lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States. New York merchants petitioned their assembly to raise money for the light by conducting lotteries and charging tonnage taxes on ships entering NY. The lighthouse was built in 1764 and has since undergone reconstruction to ensure continued operation. The Federal Government formed the U.S. Lighthouse Service, which was later incorporated into the U.S. Coast Guard, to operate the light and all other aids to navigation on U.S. waters.

This lighthouse is 29-feet in diameter at the base and 15-feet in diameter at the top. In the lantern room is a 45,000 candlepower light which is 85-feet above the ground and can be seen for 19 miles. Sandy Hook Lighthouse is a reminder of our rich maritime history, and it is an important aid to navigation at the entrance to the New York Harbor.

Sandy Hook was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The U.S. Coast Guard transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the National Park Service in 1996. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was still an active lighthouse.

New Jersey - Navesink (Twinlight) Lighthouse

The Navesink (Twinlight) is located in Highlands, NJ and overlooks the entrance to the New York Bay. In 1862 two brownstone towers were built to replace the original octagonal towers built in 1828. The north tower is octagonal, and the south tower is square. These "twin" towers are 64-feet high and 320-feet apart. They are connected by an 18 room keeper's and crew dwelling. The towers are approximately 246-feet above sea level. In 1898 the north tower, octagonal, was discontinued but it was held in reserve as an emergency light.

Twin Lights holds a prominent place in American maritime history as the first lighthouse to use the Fresnel lens. In 1841 a French "first order" fixed light was placed in the south tower (square), and a "second order" revolving light in the north tower. In 1898 an enormous electric-arc bivalve lens, measuring nine feet in diameter, replaced the south tower beehive-type light. To illuminate this new lens, the Lighthouse Service built an electric generator house on site, and made Navesink Light the only shore station having a plant for electric generation. It was estimated that the candle power was 25,000,000, which made it the most powerful coastal light in the United States. The revolving light (due to the curvature of the earth) could be seen about 22 miles at sea. Its beam reported to have been observed in the sky at a distance of 70 nautical miles.

With improvement in floating aids (Lightships, Radar, etc.) the lighthouse lost some of its early importance. The south tower continued to operate until 1949 when it was changed to "Unwatched" and then discontinued in 1952. It was used as a day beacon until 1963. The light in the North Tower was taken out of service, but was re-lit in 1962 with a smaller commemorative light. At the time of my visit here in 2001, the commemorative light was still active. The lighthouse complex and grounds were owned and operated by the state of New Jersey, and part of the complex contained a museum.

New Jersey - Sea Girt Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Sea Girt, NJ. Its tower stands 44-feet tall. Construction was finished in 1896 and a fourth order Fresnel lens was lit. The light was operational until 1977 when it was deactivated and the lens removed. A beacon was mounted atop a steel tower on the grounds. After deactivation, the building served as a dormitory for the Coast Guard, town library and a meeting place. In 1981, responsibility for the building was taken over by the Sea Girt Lighthouse Citizens Committee. Their restoration included moving the beacon from the steel tower to the lantern room of the lighthouse. Although not considered an aid to navigation, the light is active. At the time of my visit here in 2001, signage listed the lighthouse open to the public with limited hours. It was not open the day I visited, but the beautiful sight of this old lighthouse and the surrounding area made my trip here well worth it.

New Jersey - Absecon Lighthouse

The Absecon Lighthouse is located on the south side of Absecon Inlet, Atlantic City, NJ. The lighthouse was built in 1857. It is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse at a height of 171-feet. Its spiral stairway consists of 228 steps to the top. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1933. Then in 1938, the city took over responsibility for the light and it was made operational. Although the light from the first order Fresnel lens shines each night, the light is not considered an active aid to navigation. The lighthouse became the property of the State of NJ. At the time of my visit in 2001, the Lighthouse Keeper's house was undergoing restoration, however, the lighthouse was open to the public.

New Jersey - Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was built in 1874 and is located at the north end of Five Mile Beach, North Wildwood, NJ. Its purpose was to mark the entrance of the inlet for the coal trade and whalers to haul in and butcher their catches.

The lighthouse was equipped with a fourth order Fresnel lens. It was a wood frame residential design style known as "Carpenter/Swiss Gothic" or "Stick Style" making for a very picturesque but substantially built structure. It is the only one of this type on the East Coast. The tower height is 49 1/2 feet with the light elevation rising to 57-feet above sea level. The light is visible at a distance of 13 nautical miles.

The lighthouse stood firm against the onslaught of the winds, rains, and tides for 40 years at its original location. Then, in 1913 a severe storm significantly damaged the foundation requiring the lighthouse to be moved westward about 150-feet to where it now sits.

For the next 50 years the lighthouse continued in operation, but in 1964 an iron light tower, fitted with a modern automatic marine beacon, was erected behind the lighthouse. The lighthouse was closed and its entire property, including the old Coast Guard Station, was transferred to the NJ Marine Police. The lighthouse was boarded up and left to deteriorate for the next 18 years. In 1982, a lease was signed stating: "Whereby the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection turns over the stewardship of the Lighthouse to the City of North Wildwood." The city began restoration, operation and maintenance of the lighthouse. It was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1977. The modern marine beacon was removed from the iron light tower in 1986. It was placed inside the lighthouse lantern making it a fully functional aid to navigation once again.

At the time of my visit here in 2001, the light was active and maintained by the Coast Guard.