East Point Lighthouse

The East Point Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located on the Delaware Bay at the mouth of the Maurice River in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States.

History

• The East Point Light was built in 1849 and is the second oldest in New Jersey. It has played an important role in maritime history and transportation, serving as a navigational aid for over 170 years.
• The lighthouse was inactive from 1941 due to World War II efforts and suffered significant damage from fire in 1971.
• However, it was reinstated by the United States Coast Guard in 1980.

Architecture

The East Point Lighthouse is constructed of stone and features a distinctive octagonal tower with a square base.

• The lighthouse stands at a height of approximately 50 feet (15 meters) above the ground level, while its focal height reaches an impressive 115 feet (35 meters).
• The light's characteristic pattern is a three-segment rotating beam.

Light Characteristics

The East Point Light emits a powerful beam that can be seen from up to 20 nautical miles away.

• Its range is approximately 15 nautical miles in the day and 10 nautical miles at night.

Current Status

The lighthouse is currently an active navigational aid, under the stewardship of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

• It has undergone extensive restoration work, including exterior repairs completed in 1999 and a full restoration project finished in 2017.

Location and Accessibility

The East Point Lighthouse is situated at Lighthouse Road, Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey.

• The lighthouse is accessible via public roads and offers stunning views of the Delaware Bay and surrounding landscape.

Heritage Status

The East Point Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1995, for its significance in engineering, maritime history, and transportation.

• It became part of the Maurice River Lighthouse and East Point Archeological District on October 30, 2015.

Notable Historical Events

• 1849: Construction of the lighthouse begins
• 1764: The Sandy Hook Light, the oldest lighthouse in New Jersey, is built
• 1941: Inactive due to World War II efforts
• 1971: Suffers significant damage from fire
• 1980: Reinstated by the United States Coast Guard
• 1995: Added to the National Register of Historic Places
• 1999: Exterior restoration completed
• 2015: Becomes part of the Maurice River Lighthouse and East Point Archeological District
• 2017: Full restoration project finished

Heritage Status (continued)

The East Point Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1995, for its significance in engineering, maritime history, and transportation.

• It became part of the Maurice River Lighthouse and East Point Archeological District on October 30, 2015.

Current Status (continued)

The lighthouse is currently an active navigational aid, under the stewardship of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

• It has undergone extensive restoration work, including exterior repairs completed in 1999 and a full restoration project finished in 2017.

Notable Historical Events (continued)

• 1849: Construction of the lighthouse begins
• 1764: The Sandy Hook Light, the oldest lighthouse in New Jersey, is built
• 1941: Inactive due to World War II efforts
• 1971: Suffers significant damage from fire
• 1980: Reinstated by the United States Coast Guard
• 1995: Added to the National Register of Historic Places
• 1999: Exterior restoration completed
• 2015: Becomes part of the Maurice River Lighthouse and East Point Archeological District
• 2017: Full restoration project finished