Absecon Lighthouse

The need for a lighthouse at Absecon Inlet was recognized after a series of shipwrecks on the Absecon Shoals, which claimed many vessels and lives in the early 19th century. Dr. Jonathan Pitney, a physician and promoter of Atlantic City, lobbied Congress for a lighthouse, and in 1854 funding was approved. The lighthouse was designed by Lt. George Meade of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who later gained fame as the Union general at the Battle of Gettysburg. Construction used local brick and granite, and the tower was first lit on January 15, 1857, with a first-order Fresnel lens that could be seen up to 20 nautical miles at sea.

The lighthouse is a classic conical tower, painted with red and white bands, and features a spiral staircase of 228 steps leading to the lantern room. The original lens was a first-order Fresnel lens, one of the largest of its kind, which was later replaced by a smaller third-order lens in 1929. The light was operated by keepers who lived in an attached dwelling; the last keeper, Frank L. Harris, served until the light was automated in 1933. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the surrounding area was developed as a public park.

After decommissioning, the lighthouse fell into disrepair, but restoration efforts began in the 1980s, led by the Inlet Public/Private Development Corporation and later the Absecon Lighthouse Restoration Committee. In 1991, the lighthouse was relit as a private aid to navigation, and in 2003 it was opened to the public as a museum. Visitors can climb the 228 steps to the top for a view of the Atlantic City skyline and the ocean. The site includes a museum in the original keeper's quarters, which displays maritime artifacts and the history of the lighthouse and the surrounding area.¹

One lesser-known fact is that the lighthouse's foundation is a massive stone and brick base that extends deep into the sand, designed to withstand the harsh coastal environment. The original Fresnel lens is now on display at the Absecon Lighthouse Museum, having been removed during decommissioning and later returned. The lighthouse is also notable for its role in the development of Atlantic City as a resort; it was built partly to encourage maritime traffic to the new city. Additionally, the lighthouse is one of the few in the United States that is still painted in its original red and white color scheme, and it is featured on the New Jersey state quarter.²

Fresnel lens

A type of lens invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel that uses concentric rings to focus light, used in lighthouses to produce a powerful beam.

Absecon Shoals

A dangerous sandbar off the coast of New Jersey near Absecon Inlet, known for causing shipwrecks.

First-order lens

The largest size of Fresnel lens, typically used in major coastal lighthouses.