Sandy Hook Lighthouse

When the Sandy Hook Lighthouse was built in 1764, ships entered New York harbor through a natural channel that ran close to Sandy Hook. Sandbars were a constant danger. The merchants of New York built the lighthouse to protect their shipping interests. Today, the light remains a navigational aid to ships entering the harbor.

In the early years, the tower was lighted by whale-oil lamps, and mirrors were used to reflect the beacon out onto the ocean and into the harbor. Kerosene later replaced the whale oil and in the 1920's electricity was brought to the tower. The mirrors were replaced in 1857 with the Fresnel lens still in use today. The behive design of the Fresnel lens magnify's the light strong enough that it can be see for up to 19 miles on a clear night.

The Sandy Hook Foundation has been working on the Keepers Quarters that were built in 1883, restoring it back to its original look. The Keepers Quarters are a center for tours and are also a New Jersey Lighthouse Museum. The upper floors are office and meeting space for the Sandy Hook Foundation and the New Jersey Lighthouse Society.

The Sandy Hook Foundation is a non-profit Friends Group for the National Park Service at Sandy Hook. The Foundation supports preservation and public use of the Park's natural historic resources. They sponsor beach concerts, manage the Fort Hancock Post Theater, and support Shorebird protection efforts.

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