Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Perched 200 feet above sea level on a steep bluff, the Twin Lights of the Atlantic Highlands have guarded the harbor entrance since 1828.

Known officially as Navesink Light Station, it was the first in the United States to use Fresnel lenses. These beehive-shaped lenses amplified light from a small bulb, making it visible for up to 22 miles.

In 1862, builders reconstructed the lighthouse, replacing the original structures with a design that still stands today. They connected two uniquely shaped towers with the keepers’ quarters at the center. One beacon shone steadily while the other pulsed, creating a distinctive navigational signal.

n 1899, Guglielmo Marconi demonstrated his wireless telegraph at the light station by transmitting live reports of the America’s Cup Race off Sandy Hook. This achievement made the Twin Lights the nation’s first commercial wireless telegraph station.

As technology advanced, the need for lighthouses declined. Officials decommissioned the Twin Lights in 1949 after 121 years of service. In 1962, the State of New Jersey acquired the property and designated it a State Historic Site to preserve its maritime history.

I browsed the museum exhibits in the keeper’s quarters before climbing the North Tower for fantastic views. The caged-in balcony lets visitors enjoy a unique vantage point from the top.

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Location: 2 Lighthouse Road, Highlands, New Jersey
Designation: State Historic Site
Date designated/established: 1952
Date of my visit: September 30, 2018