The lighthouses in New Jersey are some of the most visually memorable aspects of a trip along the New Jersey beaches. Some are still used as navigational aids to vessels in the sea, and some are just history-filled memories of the New Jersey of yester-year, but each light house in New Jersey will provide a unique experience to anyone who loves history, the sea, and great views of the Atlantic.
New Jersey lighthouses are among some of the very oldest
and most historically significant lighthouses in the United
States. There are currently eleven lighthouses in New
Jersey that are open to the public, some of which you
can even climb to the top. There is even an organization,
the New Jersey Lighthouse Society, which exists to protect
and maintain the historical treasures that are New Jersey
lighthouses.
The oldest operational lighthouse in the United States is called Sandy Hook. Built in 1764, it survived the Revolutionary War during British occupation of the area, and has survived the elements of the Atlantic for about two and a half centuries. During summer weekends, the New Jersey Lighthouse Society offers free tours every afternoon from noon to 4:30 on the half hour. It is worth attending to soak up the history of old Sandy Hook, located in the Gateway National Recreation Area. Also in Sandy Hook Bay, enthusiasts of New Jersey lighthouses will want to visit the twin lights of Navesink, where there is a lighthouse museum.
Other notable New Jersey lighthouses includes the Bernegat Light, found at the tip of Long beach Island. If visitors to Atlantic City are also fans of Lighthouses in New Jersey, they should certainly take a side trip to the Absecon Lighthouse while staying in the area.
In North Wildwood, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse also offers tours, but beware: legend has it that the Hereford light is haunted by its first operator! Don’t worry, a visit during the daylight hours is a perfectly safe venture for those who want to see a very interesting light house in New Jersey.
Of course, the most famous and most frequented light house in New Jersey is probably the Cape may Lighthouse. Owned by the US Coast Guard, this is one of the lighthouses in New Jersey that is fully operational: it still guides boats along the southern New Jersey shore. On a rainy day in Cape May, when the beach is no fun, climb the 199 steps to the top, stopping along the way to enjoy the historical information. Then cap the day off with a visit to one of the nearby New Jersey wineries for a perfect rainy day in Cape May. The view from the top is a breathtaking panorama of the Atlantic, the Wildwoods, Cape May, and Delaware to the west.
A trip to a light house in New Jersey can also be a great addition to a romantic getaway at a bed and breakfast in the Garden State. Remembering a time when people relied on the sea, and studying the lighthouses that made the sea passable at night, is an interesting way to spend an afternoon.
