M ajestic Sandy Hook Lighthouse Gateway National Recreation Area Q1 Route 36 at Sandy Hook, Highlands 732-872-5970 www.tourism.visitmonmouth.com Near the tip of Sandy Hook is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States. The lighthouse was first lit on June 11, 1764, to assist ships navigating into New York Harbor. During the Revolutionary War, this lighthouse was captured by the British. When patriot troops tried to destroy it in 1776 to end the occupation, they found the structure strong enough to withstand their artillery, and it remained in the hands of the British until the end of the war. The grounds are open daily, with weekend tours of the interior from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Sea Girt Lighthouse P12 Ocean Ave. & Beacon Blvd., Sea Girt 732-974-0514 www.seagirtboro.com In 1889, Congress approved $20,000 for the establishment of a lighthouse in the vicinity of Squan Inlet, and the Sea Girt Lighthouse became the last live-in lighthouse constructed on the Atlantic Coast. The structure was equipped with a fourth-order Fresnel lens, lighted by a kerosene lamp, and was visible 16 miles out at sea. The restored lighthouse interior is open to the public on Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. BEACONS Photo by ShoreGrafx Twin Lights Q4 Lighthouse Road, Highlands 732-872-1814 www.twinlightslighthouse.com Nowhere else on the eastern seaboard have man and nature conspired to produce such a magnificent vista. On a clear day, the New York skyline, Verrazano Bridge, all of Sandy Hook, the ocean, the bay and even Coney Island can be seen in all their glory. But that’s just one of the reasons to visit Twin Lights, sitting majestically atop the Navesink Highlands. The towers connect visitors with a unique combination of history, nature and technology. The view is spectacular. The museum and grounds are delightful. And it’s all free. More than 200 feet above sea level, Twin Lights has stood sentinel over the coastal waters of northern New Jersey since 1828. As the primary seacoast light for New York Harbor, it was the brightest light on the Atlantic Coast for generations of seafarers. The first Fresnel lens was used here, and it was one of the first electrically lit lighthouses in the country. Twin Lights was decommissioned in 1949, and today visitors can tour the gallery and lighthouse, see the 9-foot bivalve lens on display and climb the North Tower for a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. Twin Lights is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. If you’re into Geocaching or Letterboxing, visit the Twin Lights on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to discover interesting features about the lighthouse. Go to twinlightslighthouse.com for times and additional information. The lighthouse is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and Wednesday through Sunday the rest of the year. Photo by M. Colarusso Monmouth County is home to three working lighthouses that have played key roles in American history. www.sparkvisitmonmouth.com 27
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