Absecon Light

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Absecon Light

Absecon Lighthouse
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey
Coordinates
WGS-84 (GPS)		 39°21′58.7″N, 74°24′50.8″W
Year first lit: 1857
Deactivated: 1933
Foundation: Granite blocks
Construction: Brick / Iron
Tower shape: Conical
Height: 169 feet[1]
Original lens: First order Fresnel lens
Range: 19.5 nautical miles
Characteristic: fixed white light

The Absecon Light is a lighthouse located in the north end of Atlantic City, New Jersey overlooking Absecon Inlet and is the third tallest in the United States. Construction began in 1854, with the light first lit on January 15, 1857. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1933 and although the light still shines every night, it is no longer an active navigational aid. The lighthouse is open to public visitation and for a small donation you may climb to the watch room and external gallery. A re-creation of the keepers' quarters was opened in 2002 and serves as a museum and gift shop. The original oil house now a contains a Fresnel Lens exhibit. Along with school and group tours, the Absecon Lighthouse also offers an overnight program for Scouts, Summer Keeper Camp and a wide variety of special events throughout the year.

It was designed by Lt. George Meade and still retains its original first order fixed Fresnel lens. As the light was fixed (non-flashing), it does not have a landward segment allowing visitors to look up in the lens where the keepers entered it for maintenance.

Jack E. Boucher conceived and oversaw the preservation of the lighthouse in 1964.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places as reference #71000492, and by the Historic American Buildings Survey number NJ-734.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ New Jersey Light Stations. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  2. ^ NEW JERSEY - Atlantic County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed March 6, 2008.

[edit] Further reading

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