New Jersey’s Iconic Twin Lighthouses — Historic Navesink Light Station 1862, First Electrically Lit Lighthouse in U.S. 1898, Panoramic Views of Sandy Hook Bay and Atlantic Ocean, Lighthouse Museum, 200 Feet Above Sea Level, Highlands Monmouth County New Jersey
Navesink Twin Lights is a state historic site in Highlands, Monmouth County, New Jersey, featuring the iconic Twin Lights lighthouse station perched 200 feet above sea level on the Navesink Highlands. Built in 1862, this brownstone fortress-like structure with its two non-identical towers (one octagonal, one square) was the first lighthouse in the United States to use electric lighting (1898). The site features panoramic views of Sandy Hook Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the New York City skyline, a lighthouse museum with exhibits on maritime history and technology, the original first-order Fresnel lens, tower climbing for panoramic views, connections to the Sandy Hook proving grounds and military history, and free admission.
Lighthouse History
The Navesink Highlands have served as a navigational landmark since the colonial era. The first twin lighthouses were built here in 1828, replaced by the current brownstone structure in 1862. The station made history in 1898 when it became the first lighthouse in America to use electric incandescent lighting. The light was also used for Marconi’s early wireless telegraph experiments. The station was decommissioned in 1949 when modern navigational technology made it obsolete.
Museum and Views
Today, the lighthouse operates as a free museum with exhibits on maritime history, lighthouse technology, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, and the military history of Sandy Hook. The museum houses the station’s original first-order Fresnel lens, one of the largest types made. Visitors can climb one of the towers for breathtaking panoramic views encompassing Sandy Hook Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the Manhattan skyline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two towers?
The twin towers made the station easily identifiable from sea — mariners could distinguish it from other single-tower lighthouses along the coast.
Is there an admission fee?
No, admission to the Twin Lights museum is free.
Wildlife & Nature
Twin Lights — a National Historic Landmark — was the first lighthouse in the US to use a Fresnel lens (1841) and hosted Guglielmo Marconi’s first US demonstration of wireless telegraphy (1899). The brownstone fortress-style lighthouse offers panoramic views of Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay, and the Manhattan skyline. Migrating hawks pass in fall.
Nearby Attractions
Highlands — adjacent. Sandy Hook — 3 miles east — part of Gateway NRA. Atlantic Highlands — adjacent. NYC ferry — nearby.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Leonardo State Marina (a short drive away) and Cheesequake State Park (within about an hour’s drive).
Park Location
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