Old Barney

You can't really say you've been to Barnegat Light until you visit the lighthouse which gave us our name. The inlet was baptized "Barendegat" by early dutch explorers - Inlet of breakers - due to the large waves which hinder its navegation. The first lighthouse on the inlet entered into service in 1835, but the sand around it soon eroded and a new light - still standing - was commisioned in 1856 and first lit in 1859. Lt George Meade, of Civil War reknown, supervised the construction. (He appears next to our group of climbers in the Girl's Weekend post.) The new lighthouse stood 165 feet tall and had a first order Fresnel lens, which now resides in the Barnegat Light Museum.

During World War II the lighthouse was used as a lookout tower by the Coast Guard. It was retired from service in 1944, and officially dedicated as a State Park in 1957. The park includes fishing areas, bird nesting preserves, a native maritime forest area with a trail, the Lighthouse, the jetty, and the Interactive Center, where I volunteer occasionally. This year four video cameras were installed at the top of the lighthouse so that those who can't make the climb can enjoy a real-time view from the Interactive Center. And just in case you're wondering - there are 217 steps up the lighthouse, and it's the second tallest light in NJ. (Two of my most FAQs.)

If you look at the first picture above you can see the Maritime Forest area left of the Lighthouse. The large sandy area in the foreground is a bird nesting area which protects certain endangered birds and welcomes migratory invasions. This expanse of sand came into being after the construction of the jetty by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1992. Before that, the water came right up to the dunes, and to the Lighthouse, which was in danger of toppling into the inlet. The houses in this photo (taken from the jetty) were once literally waterfront property. Of course, in those days you could swim on the beach in the park - now its just fishing, bird watching and enjoying the scenery, but is still visited by hundreds of people every day during the season. The beach area is the site of bonfires - to enjoy the full moon during July and August, and a special Holloween event in October.