Navesink Lighthouse

Year Built

1862

Cost

$72,941

Type

Octagonal; North Tower: Square

Height

46 feet; 73 feet

Location

Highlands

Automated Year

1949

First Lit

1862

Lens Type

Second Order Fresnel, 1841; North Tower: First Order Fresnel, 1841

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1898 (north tower); 1952 (south tower)

Color

Brownstone w/brick lining

Last Keeper - Date

Murphy L. Rockette (1931 – 1952)

Description

The site is currently open to visitors, and the north tower is open for climbing.

Brief History

•  In 1841, the first order lens was installed in the Navesink north tower, and the revolving second order lens was installed in the south tower.
•  In 1883, the Lighthouse Board would experiment with using mineral oil for illumination.
•  By 1898 the Lighthouse Board would install a second order bivalve Fresnel lens in the south tower, and power it with electricity.
•  With the rise in use of radar and radio-beacons to warn shipping traffic, the lighthouse became obsolete and was discontinued in 1949.
•  In 1962, the site was turned over to the state of New Jersey, by the Borough of Highlands.