Twin Lights Historical Society

 

HISTORY

   Since the mid-18th century, navigation aids have been maintained at the Navesink Highlands to help ships sail the waters off Sandy Hook in safety. The commanding heights of the Highlands made it a natural site for the lighthouse. Some contemporary sources indicate a lighthouse may have existed here as early as 1756

   It was not until 1828 that the federal government constructed the first "Twin Lights" of the Navesink Light Station. The identical towers were equipped with Fresnal lenses in 1841, America's first use of the revolutionary lenses. The lights were reported as "the best on the coast of the United States."

   The present lighthouse was built in 1862, and consists of two light towers connected by storage galleries and keeper's quarters. The brownstone structure continued to add to its list of "firsts" for American lighthouses when in 1883, it became the initial first-order light to be fueled by mineral oil (kerosene). Twin Lights became America's first electrically powered lighthouse in 1898, with installation of an electric arc bivalve lens in the south tower. It was the nation's most powerful light and visible for 22 miles at sea.

   For fifty years that light guided shipping in the approaches to New York. In 1949, the Navesink Light Station was decommissioned

 

PictureLIGHTHOUSE TOWERS

The North Tower is open during museum hours and may be climbed by visitors. The tower is entered through the GIFT SHOP. Its focal point (point at the center of the light) is 246 feet above sea level. The South Tower is open only when staffing is available

 

ELECTRIC GENERATOR STATION

In 1988, the Lighthouse Service installed an electric light in the South Tower. To produce the power for the light, a generator building was constructed. The original building, made of wood was replaced by the current brick structure in 1909. Today the building is used to display the 10 ton light as well as a pilot boat used off Sandy Hook, a Sea Bright Skiff and a metallic life car.

 
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MUSEUM
The museum, also entered through the GIFT SHOP, contains exhibits about the lightlight and the United States Life Saving Service. In addition to the museum, there are two other exhibit buildings which the public can visit. Spermacetti Cove L.S.S. life boat station built circa 1849, was moved here from Sandy Hook in 1954. The station originally housed life saving equipment used by the United States Life Saving Service to save people shipwrecked along Sandy Hook's beaches. It is one of the oldest lifesaving buildings still in existence. The building presently houses the museum's boat collection

GIFT SHOP
A GIFT SHOP is provided for the visitors at the base of the North Tower. The shop is operated by the Twin Lights Historical Society. All proceeds benefit Twin Lights Historic Site

PICNICKING
Picnic facilities in an attractive location are provided near the museum. Picnic fires must be contained to the metal grills or to grills provided by the picnicker subject to approval by the site office

GUIDED TOURS
Organized groups requesting interpreter-led tours must make arrangements in advance. Efforts will be made to meet special needs of your group.

BUILDING HOURS
Memorial Day - Labor Day: Daily 10 AM to 5 PM
Labor Day - Memorial Day: Wednesday-Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM
Closed Some Holidays
Twin Lights Historical Society E-mail address; society@twin-lights.org