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228 Steps - One Amazing Journey

New Jersey's tallest lighthouse at 171 feet tall

The third tallest masonry lighthouse in the US
Time to explore

About Us

First lit on January 15, 1857. Although Absecon Lighthouse was officially decommissioned in 1933, the lens is lit every evening for people to enjoy its beauty.
First lit on January 15, 1857.
New Jersey's tallest lighthouse at 171 feet tall.
The lighthouse has a total of 240 steps, with visitors able to climb 228 to the watchroom.
the Only lighthouse in New Jersey with its original first-order Fresnel Lens still in place at the top.
Mission
Preserve, interpret and operate Absecon Lighthouse site. Educate the public of its rich history and advocate the successful redevelopment of the Lighthouse District.
Diversity and Inclusion
We embrace Diversity and Inclusion while presenting New Jersey lighthouse history. We are committed to building a team with an array of backgrounds, skills, perspectives and abilities. The more inclusive we are, the better our work environment is. We open our doors to global and multi-cultural visitors, and respect and embrace all cultures. We believe in and honor the dignity of everyone.

History

The Inlet Public/Private Association was established in 1988 by a coalition of community, civic, business and government interests whose shared purpose was to promote the successful redevelopment of the Inlet section of Atlantic City. In 1993, IPPA adopted Atlantic City’s Absecon Lighthouse and began planning its restoration.
 The Association states that its mission is to "Preserve, interpret and operate Absecon Lighthouse site. Educate the public of its rich history and advocate the successful development of the Lighthouse District."
  • 1854
    Starting off
    After a decade of prompting from Jonathan Pitney, considered by most to be the “father” of Atlantic City, the U.S. Lighthouse Service requested and received a $35,000 appropriation from Congress for a lighthouse on Absecon Island. December 5 - The Camden and Atlantic Land Co. transferred the land for a lighthouse to the U.S. government for the sum of $520.
  • 1855
    Construction Begins
    Construction began under the direction of Major Hartman Bache. Bache was replaced by Lieutenant George Meade, who would later command the Union Army at Gettysburg.
  • 1856
    Final Cost
    An additional $17,436 was appropriated to finish the project by the Army Corps of Engineers under the direction of Lt. Col. William Reynolds. The final cost was $52,436.62.
  • 1857 January 15
    First Lighting
    The first lighting occurred with a mineral oil (kerosene) flame focusing through a huge 36-plate, First-Order Fresnel lens made in Paris especially for Absecon Lighthouse. The white light shone 19.5 nautical miles out to sea.
  • 1876
    Jetty's added
    The Lighthouse was constructed on the high dune line of the island. The water rose to within 75 feet of the tower (the approximate current location of Pacific Avenue) due to beach erosion. Four wood and stone jetties were constructed near the base of the tower to build up the beach.
1880s The jetties were finally covered by sand and the shoreline was restored to its previous configuration. Elsewhere in the City construction began on homes, shops and a modest elevated boardwalk.
1910 June 6. The first incandescent oil vapor (i.o.v.) lamps were used in the Lighthouse.
1925 July 1. Electricity was first used for the light.
1933 July 11. Absecon Lighthouse was decommissioned and the light was extinguished.
1954 The lantern was lit for a brief period for Atlantic City’s centennial celebration.
1962 A small visitor’s center was constructed at the base of the tower.
1963 December 31. Governor Richard Hughes pressed a button in the New Jersey State House, relighting the lens for the first time in 25 years for the State of New Jersey’s Tercentenary year.
1970 September 11. Absecon Lighthouse was placed on New Jersey’s Register of Historic Places.
1971 January 25. The Absecon Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1988 The Inlet Public/Private Association (IPPA) was formed and adopted Absecon Lighthouse as its logo, signifying the rebirth of the Inlet section of Atlantic City.
1994 IPPA formally adopted Absecon Lighthouse and pursued various funding options for a Historic Structure Report (HSR), leading to the tower’s ultimate restoration. IPPA received a $50,000 grant from the City of Atlantic City for the HSR.

1995

1996

1995 IPPA hired the architectural firm of Watson & Henry Associates to prepare the HSR. Watson & Henry previously designed restorations of the Lighthouse’s “sister” towers in Cape May and Barnegat. The HSR was completed in December 1995.
IPPA received a $100,000 grant from the City of Atlantic City to support the restoration process.
IPPA received a $500,000 grant from the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) for preservation of the Lighthouse Tower.
IPPA hired Sara Cureton as executive director for the Lighthouse, thus filling the position of Lightkeeper for the first time since 1933.
1996 IPPA received a commitment for a $970,000 grant from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for the restoration of Absecon Lighthouse, including the reconstruction of the Lightkeeper’s House.
IPPA hired Watson & Henry Associates to prepare designs for the tower restoration.
IPPA hires the architectural firm of Westfield Architects and Preservation Consultants to prepare plans for the Keeper’s House portion of the project.
IPPA received a commitment for $1,000,922 from the New Jersey Historic Trust for tower restoration.
IPPA received local approval from the Atlantic City Planning Board for the reconstruction of the Keeper’s House portion of the Lighthouse.
1997 May. Restoration of the tower began. Reconstruction of the Keeper’s House began shortly thereafter.
1998 Restoration of the tower reached substantial completion. The reconstructed Lightkeeper’s House was lost in a tragic fire on July 6th, just weeks away from completion. Miraculously, the tower portion of the structure escaped substantial injury.
1999 IPPA opened the historic tower to visitors, while continuing efforts to rebuild the lost Keeper’s House.
2001 October. IPPA opens the reconstructed Keeper’s House to visitors.
2005 IPPA hires a new Executive Director, Jean Muchanic.
2007 Absecon Lighthouse celebrates its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2007.
ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE/INLET PUBLIC/PRIVATE ASSOCIATION - SUMMARY HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION
The Inlet Public/Private Association (IPPA) was established in 1988 to serve as an advocate for the revitalization of the Inlet section of Atlantic City. Comprised of a diverse coalition of residents, business people, governmental organizations and community leaders, IPPA successfully raised public awareness of both the needs and many attributes of the area. In 1993, the organization adopted the historic Absecon Lighthouse as a major focus of its energies. IPPA obtained a lease of the Lighthouse and its two-acre site from the New Jersey State Division of Parks and Forestry in 1996 and raised over $3.4 million to support its restoration. Now, IPPA’s stated mission is to: "Preserve, interpret and operate Absecon Lighthouse site. Educate the public of its rich history and advocate the successful redevelopment of the Lighthouse District." 
In 1997, IPPA began the physical restoration of historic Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey’s tallest, and the country’s third tallest. Work on the Lighthouse Tower was completed in 1998. The Tower was opened to the public in 1999, and the Keeper’s House museum and gift shop opened to visitors in October 2001. Restoration of the historic two-acre site was completed in 2003, making the Lighthouse and grounds accessible to the visiting public. Since the reopening of the Lighthouse tower in 1999, over 500,000 visitors have learned of its remarkable history. Exhibitions in the Keeper’s House provide access to rare historic photographs and offer an overview of the history of Absecon Lighthouse and its restoration. A TV shows 5 live views from the top. A curriculum-based educational program, “Sailors, Seafood and Life-Saving,” was introduced in 2000, serving elementary school teachers and students. A “Keeper Sleeper” sleepover program was implemented in 2004, teaching Lighthouse history to youth based organizations all over the tri-state area. An exhibit featuring the history of the first-order Fresnel Lens was installed in the old Oil House in 2007. “Wacky Wednesdays” summer maritime educational series was launched in 2008, and Atlantic City “Kids Light Up the Arts” educational series in 2010. A 21-bed community garden for First Ward residents was installed in 2012 and adds an amazing visual element to the 2 acre property. An extensive calendar of special events attracts new and repeat visitors, thus diversifying our audience. An investment of funding will ensure the continued operation of Absecon Lighthouse as a fully accessible historic site and a dynamic educational resource for New Jersey residents and visitors.