Absecon Lighthouse
Dr. Jonathon Pitney, the “Father of Atlantic City,” determined that it was necessary to construct a lighthouse at the end of Absecon Island overlooking what was known as “Graveyard Inlet,” due to the high number of ships that foundered on that treacherous stretch of the Jersey coastline. The 171-foot slender tower of the Absecon Lighthouse became operational on January 15, 1857 utilizing a first order Fresnel lens that still remains at the top of the tower. In the first ten months of operation the lighthouse proved its worth when not a single ship was wrecked. In 1878 a jetty was built to reverse the damaging effects of storm erosion that had pushed the ocean very close to the foundation. After the turn of the century Atlantic City blossomed as a booming tourist attraction. Many of the new tall buildings blocked the Lighthouse leading to its decommissioning in 1933. Ownership of the Lighthouse passed to the City of Atlantic City and then to the New Jersey Division of Parks & Forestry. The private non-profit Inlet Public/Private Association now administers the lighthouse and offers a variety of programs. A comprehensive restoration of the lighthouse and its surrounding 2-acre site was recently completed, making a visit to the light a must for all ages. One can climb the 228 steps of the spiral staircase to reach a breathtaking view of the city and shore and tour exhibitions in the reconstructed keeper's house and original oil house on the newly restored grounds.
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