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Lighthouses of New York Harbor
Navesink Twin Lights |
The beauty of this lighthouse is not just its castle-like
structure or its medieval allure when you visit it or the fact that it had twin
lights. The beauty lies in its accomplishments as well as its architectural
design. The Twin Lights was a lighthouse of many "firsts" in this country. It
was the first lighthouse to be fitted with a fresnel lens, the first coastal
lighthouse to use electricity to light the beacon and to many mariners at sea
was the first light to be seen when approaching the shores of America. The
light was visible for 22 miles and the glow on the horizon from the lights
could be seen for over 70 miles. Marconis' first wireless transmission took
place at the Twin Lights in 1899 and the first wireless tower is just north of
the Twin Lights. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1949, but the light in
the north tower remains lit to remind us of its historical importance.
The Twin Lights is maintained as a museum for public viewing and is on the State and National Registry of Historic Places. The north light tower can be climbed to see the panoramic view of the New York Skyline and the southern end of the harbor it proudly protected.
Source: Lighthouses of New York (Greater New York Harbor, Hudson River & Long Island) Text and photographs © Jim Crowley.
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