Navesink Twin Lights facts for kids
| Location | Highlands, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°23′46.4″N 73°59′8.8″W / 40.396222°N 73.985778°W |
| Year first constructed | 1862 |
| Year first lit | 1862 |
| Automated | 1949 |
| Deactivated | 1898 (north tower); 1952 (south tower) north tower relit in 1962 |
The Navesink Twin Lights is a special place in Highlands, Monmouth County, New Jersey. It's an old lighthouse that is now a museum. It sits high up, looking over Sandy Hook Bay, the entrance to New York Harbor, and the big Atlantic Ocean.
As its name suggests, the Twin Lights has two beacons. They are located about 246 feet (75 meters) above the sea. This made them easy for ships to spot from far away.
Since 1962, the State of New Jersey has owned the Twin Lights. Today, you can visit the museum and take tours. You can even climb the North Tower for amazing ocean views. The Twin Lights is listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006. This was because of its unique design and its role in creating new lighthouse technologies.
The Twin Lights State Historic Site is also part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
Contents
History of the Twin Lights
A lighthouse has stood at this spot since 1828. It was a very important guide for ships. These ships needed help to safely enter New York Harbor.
Building the Current Lighthouse
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1862. It has two towers that look a bit different. At night, one light would flash, and the other would stay steady. This helped sailors know exactly where they were. They could tell their location as they got closer to the harbor.
New Technologies at the Lighthouse
The Navesink Twin Lights was the first American lighthouse to test a special kind of lens. This was called a Fresnel lens. A Fresnel lens helps make the light much brighter and stronger. You can see one of these special lenses in the museum today.
The lighthouse was also the site of an important event in 1899. A company called Marconi showed off their new wireless telegraph here. This was a very early way to send messages without wires!
Changes Over Time
The light in the north tower was turned off in 1898. At the same time, the south tower became one of the first lighthouses in the United States to use electricity.
In 1949, the south tower's light became automated. This meant it could work by itself without someone always there. But by 1952, the light was no longer needed as much, so it was turned off.
In 1962, the Borough of Highlands gave the site to the state of New Jersey. A local group called the Shrewsbury Power Squadron put a smaller lens in the north tower. They gave it to the town, and the north tower light was turned back on. It still works today as a private light to help boats.
