Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Light, Atlantic City, NJ

photo by Tom McNally, March 1999

Link to New Jersey Lighthouses

Text courtesy of the US Park Service

State: NEW JERSEY
Location: ORIGINALLY ABSECON BEACH
Nearest City: ATLANTIC CITY
County: ATLANTIC
U.S.C.G. District: 5

Year Station Established: 1857

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1857
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: 1933-1997
Automated:
Foundation Materials: GRANITE BLOCKS
Construction Materials: BRICK/IRON
Markings/Patterns: YELLOW WITH RED BAND MIDWAY
Shape: CONICAL ATTACHED TO KEEPERS
Relationship to Other Structures: ATTACHED
Tower Height: 169
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL/OIL LAMP
Year Original Lens Installed: 1857
Present Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Present Lens Installed: 1857
Height of Focal Plane: 167
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL LENS STILL AT TOWER

Previous Tower(s): N/A

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES; ORIGINAL DEMOLISHED (REPLICA BUILT 1998)

Other Structures: OIL HOUSE

Current Use: STATE PARK HISTORIC SITE

Owner/Manager: STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Open to the Public? YES
National Register Status: LISTED Reference #71000492
Name of Listing: ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1961

Miscellaneous:

ORIGINALLY BUILT ON ABSECON ISLAND IN 1857; ENGINEER WAS LT. GEORGE MEADE; REPLACED BY LIGHT ON CITY PIER; "RELIT" IN 1997; UNDER REHAB AS A HISTORIC SITE WITH VISITOR CENTER