Barnegat

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Barnegat Light

(Long Beach Island, New Jersey)

Barnegat light is located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island and on the south side of Barnegat Inlet about 45 miles south of the Sandy Hook Light. This site was a very important change-of-course point for ships sailing along the coast. The lighthouse was established in order to aid the ships in their course and to keep them from the dangerous shoals that extend from the shore.

In 1834, Congress appropriated $6,000 to establish a lighthouse at Barnegat Inlet. It was completed and placed into service in 1835. The initial tower was only 40 feet tall and contained a light that was equivalent to a fifth-order lens. The light proved to be ineffective for coastal navigation and eventually was in danger due to the eroding sands. Therefore, in 1856 another $60,000 was appropriated to build a new lighthouse. The new lighthouse construction was supervised by Lt. George G. Meade of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from plans that had been drawn up by Lt. W.S. Reynolds of the Topographic Engineers. The light was first lit on January 1, 1859. Today a monument to Lt. George Meade stands at the base of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse stands 165 feet tall with 217 steps to the top. The lantern room was initially equipped with a huge first-order Fresnel lens. The lens, made by Henri LePaute of Paris France, was six feet in diameter and twelve feet high. It was formed from 1,024 separate glass prisms mounted in bronze fittings and weighed three tons. The lens is now displayed in the Barnegat Light Museum on Central Avenue and 5th Street in Barnegat Light, New Jersey.

In 1926, Barnegat Lighthouse and the surrounding property were transferred to the State of New Jersey although the Lighthouse Service reserved the right to maintain a light for navigation. It remained navigational light until August 1927, when the "Barnegat Lightship" was anchored 8 miles off the coast. The tower's light was reduced over 80 percent, but it was not extinguished until January 1944 when “Old Barney” was taken out of service. The lightship was removed in 1965.

The area surrounding the light was designated as a park and was formally dedicated in 1957. The lighthouse underwent structural repairs in 1988-1991 when it was reopened for public visitation. Although the light no longer functions, the tower is open to the public and can be climbed.

Directions:

The lighthouse park is easily accessible. From the Garden State Parkway take exit 63 and follow Route 72 east to Long Beach Boulevard northbound.

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