Twin Lights of Navesink
"Twin Lights"
Unique twin-tower brownstone lighthouse. Site of first U.S. wireless telegraph demonstration. Free museum with NYC views.
Visitor access: Year-round. Confirm the current schedule before travelling.
73
Feet Tall
64
Steps to Climb
1862
Year Built
Listed
Scheduled Climbs
Visitor Information Reference
Schedules, admission and parking below are recorded planning information. Confirm your date, tour access and current charges with the operator before travelling; grounds and tower access may differ.
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
Before you go
Tower climbs, museum and grounds can keep different schedules outside summer, and grounds access does not mean step-free tower access.
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About Twin Lights of Navesink
The Twin Lights of Navesink is a unique dual-tower lighthouse featuring Romanesque brownstone architecture. Famous as the site of the first practical demonstration of Marconi's wireless telegraph in America (1899), it offers 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.
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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?
Twin Lights of Navesink offers tower climbs when scheduled by the operator. There are 64 steps to reach the top. Recorded schedule: year-round. Confirm your date, final tour and restrictions with the operator.
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?
Recorded admission to Twin Lights of Navesink is free; confirm current access and separate parking charges.
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
Photography Guide
Best tides, viewpoints, and gear for shooting Twin Lights of Navesink
View Guide →