Discover the Tallest Lighthouse Along the New Jersey Coast

Written by Patrick Sather
Updated: July 24, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


Also known as the Jersey Shore, the coastline of New Jersey measures around 130 miles long. Known for its beaches, boardwalks, and water parks, the Jersey Shore serves as a popular vacation spot for New Jersey residents and tourists alike.

Along the shoreline, you can also find 11 lighthouses. These giant structures have helped boats to navigate along the New Jersey coastline for centuries. While most are no longer actively used as navigation aids, you can still see their lights at night. That said, what is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey?

Keep reading to find out!

Size of the Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse aerial view at the mouth of Absecon Inlet in the north end of Atlantic City, New Jersey NJ, USA. The light house was built in 1856 and is the tallest Lighthouse in New Jersey.

The Absecon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey measuring 171 feet tall.

©Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock.com

The tallest lighthouse in New Jersey is Absecon Lighthouse, which stands 171 feet tall. At that height, Absecon Lighthouse not only ranks as the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey but also the fourth-tallest lighthouse in the United States. It also ranks as the third-tallest masonry lighthouse in the country. The light of the lighthouse itself stands at a focal height of 167 feet, which allows the light to travel nearly 19.5 nautical miles (22.4 miles).

Description of the Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse consists of a single cylindrical tower made up of brick and iron. The exterior masonry of the tower features three bands of paint: white on the bottom, black in the middle, and white on top. The lighthouse sits on a foundation made up of granite blocks. A spiral staircase with 228 steps winds all the way up to the top of the lighthouse. At the time of its construction, the keeper’s quarters were attached to the base of the tower. Today, a reconstruction of the keeper’s quarters serves as a museum and gift shop.

Inside the light at the top of the tower, you can find a first-order Fresnel lens. Unlike some lighthouses, Absecon Lighthouse sports a fixed (non-flashing) light. The Fresnel lens consists of lead glass and weighs approximately 12,800 pounds. When lit, it casts white bright light. Absecon Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in New Jersey still equipped with its original Fresnel lens.

Location of the Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse aerial view at the mouth of Absecon Inlet in the north end of Atlantic City, New Jersey NJ, USA. The light house was built in 1856 and is the tallest Lighthouse in New Jersey.

The Absecon Lighthouse is located in Atlantic City on Absecon Island.

©Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock.com

Absecon Lighthouse is located in Atlantic County in southern New Jersey on Absecon Island. You can find it at the northern end of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Specifically, it resides near the intersection of Pacific and South Vermont Avenue. The lighthouse overlooks Atlantic City Beach and the Absecon Inlet. Its exact coordinates are 39°21′58″N, 74°24′51″W.

History of the Absecon Lighthouse

Dr. Jonathan Pitney, the “founder of Atlantic City,” was instrumental in the growth and development of Absecon Island. Pitney arrived on the island in 1820 and began promoting the island for its purported health benefits. Beginning in 1830, Pitney began to petition the U.S. Lighthouse Service for a lighthouse on Absecon Island. In 1837, Congress approved $5,000 for the construction of the lighthouse. However, after an official survey, the government surveyor deemed the area did not need a lighthouse. As a result, the project was shelved for another two decades.

Undeterred, Pitney continued in his efforts to develop the island. He coordinated with engineers to connect Atlantic City to Philadelphia via rail and, all the while, kept writing letters to politicians and publishing articles requesting for a lighthouse on the island. In 1854, his perseverance won out, and Congress approved $35,000 for the construction of Absecon Lighthouse. Construction began in 1855 under the supervision of Major Hartman Bache. However, Bache was soon replaced by George Mead, who designed the lighthouse and oversaw its construction. The lighthouse was completed by 1856, and the total cost of the project came to $52,436.62.

Absecon Lighthouse was first lit on January 15, 1857. An electric light replaced the original oil lamp in 1925. On July 11, 1933, Absecon Lighthouse was decommissioned, and its light was turned off. The lighthouse sat unused for several decades, although it lit up for brief periods, such as to celebrate Atlantic City’s centennial in 1954 and New Jersey’s Tercentenary in 1963. In 1970, Absecon Lighthouse joined New Jersey’s Register of Historic Places, and the following year it landed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Can I Visit the Absecon Lighthouse?

Absecon Lighthouse Staircase

A spiral staircase with 228 steps winds all the way up to the top of Absecon Lighthouse.

©Kwok Min Hui/Shutterstock.com

Today, Absecon Lighthouse no longer actively helps ships to navigate the New Jersey coastline. That said, the lighthouse still lights up every night to delight onlookers. If you want to visit the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey, you can schedule a tour through the official lighthouse website. Tours operate from 11am-4pm, Thursday through Monday, from September to June. Between July and August, tours run from 10am-5pm daily and until 8pm on Thursdays. The lighthouse charges a small fee to climb the stairs to the top of the tower. The fee varies from $10 for a normal adult ticket to $5 for Atlantic City residents. Children under 4 and active-duty military personnel can get in for free. If you don’t wish to climb the lighthouse, you can visit the gift shop and museum at the base of the lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse also sponsors special events throughout the year. The “Light & Sound” Healing Experience includes a guided meditation, gallery reading, and sunset sound bath. Each Wednesday in July and August, you can attend Wacky Wednesdays at the Lighthouse. Wacky Wednesdays include crafts, activities, and movies. In October, visit the lighthouse for a haunted tour, or visit in December for the Luminary Light Festival to enjoy caroling, specialty cheeses and wines, and the chance to light your own personal luminary.

Wildlife Around Absecon Lighthouse

seagull with fish in mouth

Seagulls are a common sight around Absecon Lighthouse.

©iStock.com/CreativeNature_nl

Today, Absecon Island is highly developed. While not as wild as it once was, you can still find a wide variety of animals on the island and around Absecon Lighthouse. Animals you might encounter include diamondback terrapins, gulls, and hermit crabs.

The Atlantic Ocean lies just a few hundred feet from the base of Absecon Lighthouse. The waters off Atlantic City Beach feature an incredible amount of biodiversity. Animals that you can find in the water include lobsters, seahorses, sea turtles, sharks, and jellyfish

Where is Absecon Lighthouse Located on a Map?

The Absecon Lighthouse is neatly tucked away at the north end of Atlantic City, New Jersey. It overlooks Absecon Inlet, with a height of 171 feet, it holds the title of being the tallest lighthouse in the state of New Jersey and ranks as the third-tallest masonry lighthouse in the entire United States.

Here is Absecon Lighthouse on a map:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Clare Bonthrone/Shutterstock.com


Share on:

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.