Absecon Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Vermont and Pacific Avenues, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°21′58″N 74°24′51″W / 39.36611°N 74.41417°W |
| Year first constructed | 1856 |
| Year first lit | 1857 |
| Deactivated | 1933 |
| Foundation | Granite blocks |
| Construction | Brick and iron |
| Tower shape | Frustum of a cone attached to keeper's house |
| Markings / pattern | yellow/black/yellow |
| Height | 171 feet (52 m) |
| Original lens | First-order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 19.5 nmi (36.1 km; 22.4 mi) |
| Characteristic | fixed white light |
The Absecon Lighthouse is a tall building with a bright light. It stands in Atlantic City, New Jersey, near the ocean. It is 171 feet (52 m) (about 52 meters) tall. This makes it the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey. It is also one of the tallest brick lighthouses in the whole United States.
Workers started building it in 1854. The light first shone on January 15, 1857. The lighthouse stopped being an active guide for ships in 1933. Even though its light still shines every night, ships do not use it for navigation anymore.
Today, you can visit the lighthouse. For a small fee, you can climb to the top. There is also a museum in a building that looks like the old lighthouse keeper's home. This museum opened in 2002. The original building where oil was stored now shows off a special type of light lens. The Absecon Lighthouse also has programs for school groups and Scouts. They offer art programs for kids in winter and many other special events.
The lighthouse was designed by George Meade. It still has its original first-order Fresnel lens. This lens is made of heavy glass and weighs 12,800 pounds (5,800 kg) (about 5,800 kg). The light was always on and did not flash. This design allowed lighthouse keepers to enter the lens from below for cleaning and care.
Jack E. Boucher helped save the lighthouse in 1964. He made sure it was kept in good condition.
The Absecon Lighthouse is an important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also part of the Historic American Buildings Survey and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The Absecon Lighthouse has a history museum. It is located in a building that looks like the keeper's house from 1925. Inside, you can learn about ocean life and shipwrecks. You can also discover the history of lighthouse keepers and the lighthouse itself. The museum shows old items from the area and photos of the lighthouse being fixed up.
The old oil house now has an exhibit about the Fresnel lens. Visitors can climb 228 steps to reach the very top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse offers special learning programs for groups and children.
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A drawing of the top part of the lighthouse
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A photo of the lighthouse at night
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