Absecon Lighthouse

Year Built

1856

Cost

$35,000

Type

Conical attached to keeper's house

Height

171 feet

Location

Vermont and Pacific Avenues, Atlantic City

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1857

Lens Type

First order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1933

Color

Yellow/black/yellow

Last Keeper - Date

Knud Hanson (1914 – 1933)

Description

A re-creation of the keepers' quarters was opened in 2002 and serves as a museum and gift shop.

Brief History

•  The lighthouse was completed in late 1856 under direction of another engineer Captain W.F. Fraynolds. Daniel Scull was the first lighthouse keeper to use the 228 cast iron steps to the top of Absecon Light.
•  A battle with the sea began soon after the lighthouse was activated. By the 1870s erosion had reached the station.
•  Two dwellings were built with the lighthouse, one for the head keeper and one for his two assistants.
•  Eventually the lights of the fast growing Atlantic City made the Absecon light useless and it was deactivated in 1933.
•  In 1954, the lighthouse was lit to honor Atlantic City’s centennial and again in 1963 to celebrate the state’s tercentenary.