Barnegat Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Barnegat Lighthouse, bordering the Atlantic Ocean | |
| Location | North end of Long Beach Island, off Broadway Avenue, Barnegat Light, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 39°45′51.6″N 74°6′22.4″W / 39.764333°N 74.106222°W |
| Year first lit | 1857 (current tower) |
| Automated | 1927 |
| Deactivated | 1944–2009 |
| Foundation | Granite crib |
| Construction | Brick / iron |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | White bottom half Red top half White lantern |
| Height | 169 ft (52 m) |
| Focal height | 163 ft (50 m) |
| Original lens | 4th order Fresnel lens (original), 1st order Fresnel lens (1857), VRB-25 (current) |
| Range | 22 nmi (41 km; 25 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing white, 10s |
Barnegat Lighthouse, also known as Barnegat Light, is a famous old lighthouse. It stands tall in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. This park is located at the very northern tip of Long Beach Island in Barnegat Light, New Jersey. The lighthouse is on the south side of the Barnegat Inlet, helping ships navigate safely.
Contents
History of Barnegat Lighthouse
Building the First Lighthouse (1830s)
The story of Barnegat Lighthouse began in June 1834. The United States Congress approved money to build the first lighthouse. This first lighthouse was about 40 feet (12 m) tall. It started working in 1835. However, sailors at the time thought its light was not strong enough.
The lighthouse was built 900 feet (270 m) away from the water. But the strong ocean currents in the inlet caused a lot of erosion. In just ten years, the lighthouse was only 450 feet (140 m) from the water!
Designing the New, Taller Lighthouse (1850s)
In 1855, a smart Army engineer named George G. Meade was chosen to design a new lighthouse. He later became a famous general in the American Civil War. Meade had just finished designing another lighthouse, so he was perfect for the job.
Work on the new Barnegat Lighthouse began in late 1856. Because the land kept eroding, the new lighthouse was built about 100 feet (30 m) south of the first one. The spot where the first lighthouse stood is now under water.
While the new lighthouse was being built, the light from the old one was moved. It went into a temporary wooden tower nearby in June 1857. This was because the ocean was getting too close to the old lighthouse. Later that year, the original tower fell into the water. To protect the lighthouses from rough waves, several jetties (long structures built into the water) have been built over the years.
Barnegat Light Opens (1859)
The current Barnegat Light was officially opened on January 1, 1859. The light at the top was 172 feet (52 m) above sea level. The lighthouse tower itself was 163 feet (50 m) tall. This made it four times taller than the first lighthouse!
The new light used a special lens called a first-order flashing Fresnel lens. This lens was about 12 feet (3.7 m) tall. The whole project cost about $40,000, and the lens alone cost $15,000. The lighthouse is actually two towers in one. An outer cone-shaped tower covers a cylindrical tower inside.
Changes in the 20th and 21st Centuries
The lighthouse's bright beacon guided ships for many years. But in August 1927, a lightship was placed 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) off the coast. This meant the lighthouse's main job changed. Its light was then automated. The large Fresnel lens was replaced with a smaller gas blinker. This made the tower's light much less powerful. A few weeks later, the gas blinker was replaced with an electric bulb.
In January 1944, the lighthouse was no longer used as a Coast Guard lookout. It was given to the State of New Jersey. Four years later, the town nearby, Barnegat City, changed its name to Barnegat Light.
In 1954, the original Fresnel lens was returned to Barnegat Light. You can now see it at the Barnegat Light Museum. The area around the lighthouse became a state park in 1957. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
The tower was closed for a while in 1988 for construction of a new south jetty. It reopened to visitors in 1991. Today, you can climb the 217 steps to the top. Over half a million people visit the lighthouse every year.
Bringing the Light Back (2009)
In 2008, a local group called "Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park" raised money. They wanted to turn the lighthouse's beacon back on. They raised $35,000, with a big part coming from the local police. This money helped buy a new light system called a VRB-25. It also paid for new windows.
In October 2008, the VRB-25 system was installed. This system is smaller than the original light. But it is now used in over 100 lighthouses across the U.S.
On January 1, 2009, the Barnegat Lighthouse beacon was turned on again. This was exactly 150 years after it first opened. It was the first time the light had been on since before World War II.
The lighthouse closed for renovations in March 2022 for seven months. However, the museum and grounds stayed open. The light now shines every day from dusk until dawn. There is also a foghorn on a nearby breakwater. The tower itself is lit up at night.
Museums
Right next to the lighthouse is the Barnegat Lighthouse Interpretive Center. The state of New Jersey runs this center. It teaches visitors about the lighthouse's history. You can learn about shipwrecks and how the lighthouse helped ships. Exhibits also show how lighthouses work. They explain what lighthouse keepers did. You can also see how people work to protect Barnegat Lighthouse.
A few blocks away is the Barnegat Light Museum. The Barnegat Light Historical Society runs this museum. It holds the lighthouse's original first-order Fresnel lens. This is the huge lens that was used when the lighthouse first opened. The museum also has other exhibits. One interesting exhibit is about Sinbad. He was a Coast Guard dog during World War II. Sinbad retired to Barnegat and is buried there.
See also
