- Open every day from 9:00am to 4:30pm
- Self-guided tours offered year-round
- Historical interpreters are on site from April-October
- Informational panels provided throughout the grounds and exhibits
- Guided group tours are customized to the group size/ages/interests and can be arranged in advance through the website
- Special events include Weekend in Olde Monmouth, National Lighthouse Day, the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge, and Winterfest in October, among other national and regional events
- Various functions like lectures, meetings, and book signings hosted in the South Wing auditorium
- Check the website for upcoming events
- ADA accessible
- Restrooms
- Parking on site
- Picnic areas
- Museum store
- Interpretive panels
- Walking path for self-guided tours
- Free
Twin Lights National Historic Landmark
2 Lighthouse Road, Highlands, NJ 07730
732-872-1814
The Twin Lights National Historic Landmark offers one of the best and most expansive views of the New Jersey coast. Situated 250 feet above sea level, the Twin Lights overlook the Shrewsbury River, Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay, New York skyline, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Twin Lights have been used as an aid to navigation over the coastal waters of New Jersey since 1828 when the light station served as the primary lighthouse for the New York Harbor. At the time, it was known as the best and brightest light in North America. The lighthouse, historically known as the Navesink Light Attendants Station, is now a National Historic Landmark.
The landmark’s Powerhouse features a giant Fresnel lens that revolutionized the science of optics and an accompanying exhibit explaining its deployment as one of the earliest self-powered electrical projects in the country. The North Wing includes the North Tower and the Twin Lights museum galleries, which offer a presentation of key artifacts, figures, and events in the site’s history, including technological innovations first employed at the Twin Lights. The South Wing includes the South Tower, an auditorium featuring notable local characters in Highlands history, and an interactive navigation exhibit with a ship’s wheel, triangulation game, and essential navigational tools. The original Spermaceti Cove Lifesaving Station dates to 1849 and is the oldest original structure of its kind in America.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
- Take in panoramic views of the New Jersey and New York skylines at the top of the Twin Lights landmark
- Learn about the history of nineteenth century navigation through interactive exhibits and early artifacts
Journey through Jersey strives to have the most up-to-date information, but always check with the site itself before planning a visit.
