Notes:
(1) Navesink Twin Lights (Highlands Lighthouse) were built to guide shipping in the approach to New York Harbor.

      The Highlands of Navesink (originally Neversink) overlooks the entrance to Lower New York Bay and the 200 foot-high coastal headland made the Highlands an distinctive landmark to locate the narrow entrances to New York Harbor before any Lighthouses were built.

      In 1746, English colonists hoisted large balls during the day or lighted kegs of oil at night when French enemy ships were discovered approaching the harbor.  New York observers alerted the City when the warning beacon was activated.

      In 1764, Sandy Hook Lighthouse, five miles north of the Highlands, was established to mark the entrance to New York Harbor.  Later, Congress appropriated funds to establish a new primary seacoast beacon at the Highlands of Navesink on May 18, 1826 to further aid shipping.

.       Charles Smith of Stonington, Connecticut completed construction of the Twin Towers with a Keeper's dwelling, located midway between them, on May 9, 1828 at a cost of $8,440.  Melville of Newport, Rhode Island, supplied the lamps and reflector system at a cost of $1,840 and Joseph Doty of Somerville, New Jersey was appointed the first Light-keeper with an annual salary of $600.  To aid mariners in distinguishing the Navesink Twin Lights from Sandy Hook Light to the north, two blue split-stone octagonal Towers were built 320 feet apart with the North Tower exhibiting a Fixed Light and the South Tower exhibiting a Flashing Light.

.       The Twin Lights of Navesink were a important navigational aid marking the narrow, shallow and dangerous approach to Lower New York Bay. After sighting the Highlands, mariners changed course North to the gateway to the Hudson River and port of New York marked by Sandy Hook Lighthouse.

(2) North Tower Original 1828 Optic: 15 Lamps with 14" Parabolic Reflectors supplied by David Melville of Newport, Rhode Island, Fixed White

      In 1841, Navesink Twin Lights was the First Lighthouse to use a Fresnel Lens*

      In 1838, Congress authorized two Fresnel lenses for testing. Commodore Matthew C. Perry was sent to investigate European Lighthouses and purchase the lenses.

      In March 1841, the North Tower was refitted with a First-order Fixed Fresnel Lens, F W under the supervision of Commodore Perry.

      By 1861, new Towers were needed to replace the poorly built deteriorating original Towers.  In 1862, the rebuilt North Tower Optic was refitted with a First-order Fresnel Lens, F W [Fixed White].
The new Towers were First Lit May 1, 1862.  The distinctive fortress-like 18-room Lighthouse was designed by architect Joseph Lederle to connect both Towers for direct access.

      The illuminant was changed to Lard Oil in 1862 followed by Kerosene in 1883.

*The Lens was originally called a “Lenticular apparatus.”  The lens is a catadioptric lens - using both refraction and reflection to bend light rays into a single powerful directed beam.

(3) South Tower Original 1828 Optic: 12 Lamps with 14" Parabolic Reflectors supplied by David Melville of Newport, RI, Revolving (rotated every 2.5 minutes).  In March 1841, the South Tower was refitted with a Second-order Revolving Fresnel Lens, Fl W under the supervision of Commodore Perry.

      In 1862, the rebuilt South Tower Optic was refitted with a First-order Fresnel Lens, FW [Fixed White].

      In 1898, the Optic was refitted with First-order Fresnel Bivalve Lens, Fl W [Flashing White].
This lens has been On Display in the Museum since 1979.

      The illuminant was changed to Lard Oil in 1862, Kerosene in 1884, electricity in 1898, and to Incandescent Oil Vapor in 1917 to save costs.  As a primary Light for the port of New York, the Twin Lights received many new technologies first in the gradually improving Lighthouse system.

      In 1883, the Twin Lights were the initial First-order Light Station to use Kerosene. The conversion to Kerosene produced 10,000 candlepower whereas Lard Oil developed 8,000 candlepower. In comparison, Kerosene burned more cleanly, did not require trimming, did not congeal in cold temperatures, and cost 66% less than animal oil.

      On June 30th 1898, the South Tower was the first Primary Seacoast Light to be converted to electric power by installing a electric arc bivalve lens producing 25 million candlepower visible for 22 nautical miles.  [The Statue of Liberty was the first lighthouse to use electrical lighting on Nov 22nd 1886, and Sandy Hook was the second lighthouse to use electrical lighting on Apr 16, 1889.]

      On September 30th 1899, the Light Station was used for the first wireless transmission of morse code by Guglielmo Marconi during the Americas Cup Races.

      In 1931, the Incandescent Oil Vapor Lamp was converted to Electric power to increase the light’s candlepower.  In 1907, many Lighthouses were converted from Oil Lamps to Oil Vapor Lamps with significant increase in candlepower and decrease in operational costs.  For example, a First-order Oil Lamp produced a 710-candlepower light whereas First-order Incandescent Oil Vapor Lamp produced 10,879-candlepower light.  However, the change from electricity to Oil Vapor in 1917 dramatically decreased Navesink Light to 710,000-candlepower.

      In 1939, the optic was refitted with a Second-order Fresnel Lens, 9 million-candlepower electric light, Fl W (Flash .3s, eclipse 4.7s).

      In 1952, the Coast Guard decommissioned the Light Station due to modern navigational aids and later, the Ambrose Light-tower established Aug 23, 1967.  Ironically, Navesink Light became obsolete due to technological advancements in coastal navigation.  Boston Museum of Science acquired the Lens for exhibit until 1979 when the Museum transferred the bivalve lens to Navesink. The First-order bivalve Lens is on display in the power plant behind the South Tower.

(4) The 1828 Blue Split Stone Octagonal Tower was demolised in 1862.

(5) The Light Station was used as a Daybeacon until 1962 when the North Tower Light was refitted with a Sixth Order Fresnel Lens manufactured in 1881 and reactivated as a private aid to honor the Light Station’s service.  The North Tower Light exhibits a Occulting White Light every 10-seconds (Light is on 5-sec and off 5-sec) and is maintained from Apr. 15 to Nov. 15

      In 1960, Navesink Light became a New Jersey State Historic Site administered by the Department of Environmental Protection.  Navesink Light Station was designated a National Historic Landmark on February 21, 2006.

(6) Directions from the Garden State Parkway, NJ:
     Travel to Rt 36 East (exit 117 Southbound or Exit 105 Northbound).  Stay on Rt 36 East (12.5 mi.) to Highlands, NJ.  Turn Right onto Miller St (0.07 mi), Turn Left onto Highland Ave (0.17 miles), and Turn Right onto Lighthouse Road..  Drive to the Twin Lights Historic Site.