Twin Lights Historic Site – Highlands, New Jersey

Perched 250 feet above Sandy Hook Bay, the Twin Lights of Navesink command one of the most breathtaking vantage points on the entire Jersey Shore. From the medieval‑style towers, visitors can take in sweeping views of the Shrewsbury River, Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay, the New York City skyline, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The site is not only visually striking — it is one of the most historically significant navigational landmarks in the United States.

A Landmark of American Innovation

The Twin Lights stand on one of the highest natural points along the East Coast and mark the location of several national “firsts” in maritime and communications history:

First Fresnel Lens in the United States Installed here, setting a new standard for lighthouse illumination.
Site of Marconi’s Wireless Breakthrough (1899) Guglielmo Marconi demonstrated the first practical use of wireless telegraphy from the Navesink Highlands.
First Kerosene‑Fueled Lighthouse Lamps (1883) A major advancement in lighthouse lighting technology.
Among the First Electrically Lit Seacoast Lighthouses (1898) Making the Twin Lights one of the earliest beacons to adopt electric illumination.

For generations, the Twin Lights served as a critical aid to navigation for ships traveling the busy coastal waters of New Jersey.

Architecture & Museum

The present‑day brownstone double towers, completed in 1862, replaced the original 1828 Navesink lights. Their distinctive fortress‑like design makes them one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the country.

Although decommissioned in 1949, the site now houses a museum of lighthouse, lifesaving, and maritime artifacts, offering a deep look into coastal history and technological innovation.

Climb the Towers

Visitors can climb 64 steps to the observation decks in the north and south towers, where panoramic views stretch for miles. On clear days, you can see: