The State We're In

Jun 5, 2026

By Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Beacons of history on the Jersey Shore

From Sandy Hook to Cape May and along both the Delaware and Hudson Rivers, historic lighthouses dot New Jersey shorelines. Built for their utility, these structures now offer visitors a chance to explore a bit of history and some of New Jersey’s prettiest landscapes.

Without the parks and preserved open space surrounding these monuments, many might not be standing.

Parks can help limit overdevelopment that might change the nature of historic sites and buffer against flooding or shoreline erosion. And they provide the backdrop that allows us to experience these places much as they were long ago.

Rich in history and interesting landscapes, many of New Jersey’s lighthouses really shine!

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse at the northern end of Gateway National Recreation Area – a 6-mile stretch of shoreline in Monmouth County – is a unique octagonal tower dating to 1764. It’s the oldest operating lighthouse in the country and has been in continuous service for more than 250 years!

Preserved back in 1972, Gateway offers a glimpse of the Jersey Shore before the widespread conversion from wild areas to dense suburbs. There’s a lot for visitors to enjoy. The largest American holly forest on the East Coast grows near the lighthouse, alongside a paved bicycle path, ancient sand dunes, hiking trails, and bayside salt marshes. The park also supports seals, whales, fish, and more than 300 species of birds.

Looking southwest down the coast from Sandy Hook beach, you’ll spot the Twin Lights of Navesink rising 250 feet above the Shrewsbury River. The current brownstone Navesink towers were built in 1862 on the site of the original 1828 lighthouse, and offer expansive views of Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay, the New York Skyline, and the Atlantic Ocean.

These Twin Lights ushered in a lot of firsts. In 1841, the first specially-designed Fresnel lens was installed here, revolutionizing harbor safety and jump-starting the science of optics in the United States. Before Fresnel lenses, the lights on these maritime beacons were dim, scattered, and inefficient.

The Twin Lights also became the first major American lighthouse to generate its own electricity. And, in 1899, Guglielmo Marconi demonstrated the first practical use of wireless communication here when he transmitted news dispatches from a ship offshore. Later, in 1935, the United States Army unveiled its “Mystery Ray” – later named Radar – at the Twin Lights. Who knew WI-FI and Radar had their start right here on the Jersey Shore?

Farther down south, another famed New Jersey lighthouse attracts millions of visitors every year. The Barnegat Lighthouse – “Old Barney” – on Long Beach Island overlooks Island Beach State Park, which preserves miles of dunes and beaches that remain much as they have for centuries. Why not take the time to visit this historic spot and imagine Old Barney calling in fishing ships and overlooking 19^th century picnics on the beach?

Still on active duty, the Cape May Lighthouse stands at the southern tip of New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Since opening to the public in 1988, more than 2 million visitors have climbed its 199 steps as they explore Cape May Point State Park, which offers freshwater meadows, ponds, forests, dunes, and beach. Each fall, it becomes a global destination for bird migration, and a popular place for sightings of monarch butterflies and “Cape May diamonds,” the smooth quartz pebbles carried ashore by the tide.

Moving up the Delaware Bay, sightseers will encounter Eastpoint Lighthouse. Built in 1849 and located at the mouth of the Maurice River in Cumberland County, it’s owned and managed by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Though currently closed, the agency is working closely with Cumberland County and Maurice River Township on an agreement that could soon reopen it to the public. The timeline is unclear, but one thing is certain: the beauty that surrounds this structure is stunning and worth protecting – verdant grasses, horseshoe crab-filled beaches, airways for bald eagles, and so much more.

This summer, as you explore the shore, remember to stop and visit the state’s iconic lighthouses and their surrounding parks – you’ll find interesting and beautiful places where history and nature meet.

To learn more about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation at www.njconservation.org or contact info@njconservation.org.