Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
On May 11, 1874 this elegant, yet sturdily built Victorian designed lighthouse surrounded by luscious English Cottage Gardens first shone its light. Its square tower connected with a two-story residence has a near twin model in Los Angeles, California, known as Point Fermin Light. During the 1800's the village of Anglesea (now North Wildwood) was becoming an established fishing village, but strong currents and shifting sandbars led to frequent groundings and shipwrecks. It became evident that a lighthouse was needed to mark the mouth of the inlet. The lighthouse withstood winds, Band tides until a severe storm hit in 1913, significantly damaging the foundation and requiring it be moved 150 feet westward to its present location. The light was deactivated in 1964 when ownership went to the State of New Jersey and it was replaced by an automated skeletal tower light erected next to the lighthouse. The lighthouse was left to deteriorate until 1982 when it was leased to the City of North Wildwood and restoration began. After a few short years of hard work, in 1986 the modern marine beacon was transferred from the skeletal tower to the lighthouse, making it a fully functional aid to navigation once again.
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