Twin Lights of Navesink
"Twin Lights"
Unique twin-tower brownstone lighthouse. Site of first U.S. wireless telegraph demonstration. Free museum with NYC views.
73
Feet Tall
64
Steps to Climb
1862
Year Built
Yes
Climbable
Plan Your Visit
⏰Hours
Year-round
Weekdays: 10am - 4pm (Wed-Sun)
Closed Monday, Tuesday. North tower climb available weather permitting.
🎟️Admission
🅿️Parking
Free parking at museum lot.
♿Accessibility
Museum is accessible. Tower climb is not accessible.
🏛️Managed By
NJ Division of Parks and Forestry
About Twin Lights of Navesink
The Twin Lights of Navesink is a unique dual-tower lighthouse featuring stunning Romanesque brownstone architecture. Famous as the site of the first practical demonstration of Marconi's wireless telegraph in America (1899), it offers spectacular views of Sandy Hook Bay and the NYC skyline.
History
The Twin Lights, officially the Navesink Light Station, was built in 1862 to replace an earlier 1828 structure. Its unique twin-tower design - connected by a central keeper's quarters - made it instantly recognizable to mariners.
The lighthouse played a pivotal role in communications history. In 1899, Guglielmo Marconi set up wireless telegraph equipment here and successfully transmitted the results of the America's Cup yacht race - the first practical demonstration of wireless telegraphy in the United States.
The lights were the first in America to use electricity (1898) and housed the most powerful lights ever used in the U.S. The station was deactivated in 1949 when radar made it obsolete.
Notable Facts
- •Site of first practical wireless telegraph demonstration in U.S. (1899)
- •First lighthouse in U.S. to use electricity (1898)
- •Unique twin-tower design - the only one of its kind in U.S.
- •Housed the most powerful lighthouse lights ever used in America
- •Original First Order bivalve lens is at NJ State Museum in Trenton
Visiting Tips
Photography Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you climb Twin Lights of Navesink?▼
Yes, you can climb Twin Lights of Navesink. There are 64 steps to reach the top. The lighthouse is open year-round.
How tall is Twin Lights of Navesink?▼
Twin Lights of Navesink stands 73 feet (22 meters) tall, making it one of the notable lighthouses on the Jersey Shore.
When was Twin Lights of Navesink built?▼
Twin Lights of Navesink was built in 1862. The Twin Lights, officially the Navesink Light Station, was built in 1862 to replace an earlier 1828 structure.
How much does it cost to visit Twin Lights of Navesink?▼
Admission to Twin Lights of Navesink is free.
Technical Details
- Style
- Romanesque brownstone
- Material
- brownstone
- Lens
- First Order bivalve Fresnel (North Tower, now at NJ State Museum)
- Light
- Deactivated 1949 (electric beacon replaced)
- Region
- North Shore
- County
- monmouth