Absecon Lighthouse - Atlantic City, NJ
N 39° 21.982 W 074° 24.847
18S E 550470 N 4357597
For a small fee, you can climb the 228 steps and get a fantastic 360° of the Atlantic Ocean, Absecon Inlet and all of Atlantic City.
Waymark Code: WM9G9M
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2010
Views: 15
The Absecon Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse & benchmark located in the north end of Atlantic City, overlooking Absecon Inlet. It is the tallest lighthouse in the state of New Jersey and is the third tallest masonry lighthouse in the United States.
From my previous waymark:
The Absecon Lighthouse (not open), Pacific and Rhode Island Aves.' is the Eiffel Tower of Atlantic City - wherever the visitor looks he sees the 167-ft. structure, much like an oversize factory chimney with a glass cage perched on top. When erected in 1854 it stood 1,300 ft. from the water front. Within the next few years the Atlantic began to encroach on the shore line until the waves broke within 75 ft. of the lighthouse. Massive stone jetties were built to protect it, and as a result the ocean retreated until now it is two long blocks away. The light was abandoned in 1932. --- New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past: Page 200, 1939
The lighthouse is 171 feet tall and has 228 steps. It has one of those Fresnel Lens found in the other NJ lighthouses. The lighthouse was designed by George Meade who was a civil engineer involved in coastal construction, including several lighthouses. One of my favorites, Barnegat Light, was also designed by him.
The foundation is made of granite blocks and brick and iron was used in its construction. The tower is a truncated or the frustum of a cone attached to the light keeper's house. Its markings are yellow, black then yellow again.
This is a gorgeous lighthouse which overlooks the casinos and Atlantic Avenue. The lighthouse is surprisingly far from the ocean, over 1,000 feet. The site is gated so there is absolutely no access unless you are there from 10 AM to 5 PM. The surrounding area is not the safest so avoid a nighttime visit.
The lighthouse was put out of service in 1933 but it is still lit at night even though sailors don't use it to navigate. If you go during the visiting hours you can climb the steps and hang out in the watch room and get a great view of the ocean and skyline. The house at the bottom is not the original but a restoration of the original. It opened in 1992 and you can buy souvenirs there as well.
My close friends at Wikipedia told me Absecon Lighthouse has a history museum located in the replicated 1925 Keeper’s House. Exhibits include ocean life, shipwrecks, keepers and lighthouse history, local memorabilia and restoration photos. The Oil House has a Fresnel Lens exhibit. Visitors can climb the 228 steps to the top of the lighthouse. Educational programs are offered for groups and children.