Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse At A Glance...

At 171 feet, Absecon is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the third tallest masonry lighthouse in the country.
It is the only lighthouse in New Jersey with its original first-order Fresnel lens still in place at the top.
The lens was first lit on January 15, 1857, and it still lights up every evening.
A TV in the Keeper's House shows live views from the top of the tower.
Todays Sunrise: 7:18 am, Sunset: 6:05 pm
New Jersey Greater Atlantic City Region Atlantic County

About Absecon Lighthouse

New Jersey's tallest lighthouse awaits you at Pacific and Rhode Island Avenues in Atlantic City (walking distance from the Ocean Casino Resort).

Take an amazing journey into time and above it all as you ascend the 228 steps of the Absecon Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in the country. You'll see breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline and up top you'll come face-to-face with the original first-order Fresnel Lens, first lit in 1857.

The tower is 171 feet tall, which also makes it the third tallest masonry lighthouse in the country. The lighthouse has 240 steps in all, and visitors climb 228 of them to the watchroom. Absecon was decommissioned in 1933, but the lens is still lit every evening.

The multi-million dollar restoration also includes a replica of the Lightkeeper's dwelling with an educational museum and a gift shop, a Fresnel lens exhibit in the original Oil House, and expansive grounds with a 21-bed community garden. The Inlet Public/Private Association runs the site.

Activities:
- Walking
Amenities:
- Restrooms/Bathrooms
- Parking Lot(s)
- Lighthouse
Trails:
- Flat / Easy
Attractions:
- Lighthouse
- Museum / Gallery
Rules/Regulations:
- Entrance Fee Required

Contact / Location

Primary Address:

Get Directions 31 South Rhode Island Avenue,
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401

Contact:

A Brief History

Jonathan Pitney, considered the father of Atlantic City, spent a decade pushing for a light on Absecon Island. In 1854 Congress appropriated $35,000, and construction started the next year under Major Hartman Bache. He was replaced by Lieutenant George Meade, who later commanded the Union Army at Gettysburg.

The light was first lit on January 15, 1857, with a 36-plate first-order Fresnel lens made in Paris especially for Absecon. Beach erosion later brought the water to within 75 feet of the tower, and four wood and stone jetties were built near its base in 1876 to rebuild the beach. Electricity arrived in 1925, and the lighthouse was decommissioned on July 11, 1933.

The lens was relit in 1954 for Atlantic City's centennial and again on December 31, 1963, when Governor Richard Hughes pressed a button in the State House. The lighthouse went on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1970 and the National Register in 1971.

The Inlet Public/Private Association adopted the lighthouse in 1993 and leased it and its two-acre site from the state in 1996. Restoration of the tower began in 1997. The reconstructed Lightkeeper's House burned on July 6, 1998, just weeks from completion, and the tower came through without major damage. The tower opened to visitors in 1999, the rebuilt Keeper's House in October 2001, and the Fresnel lens exhibit in the Oil House in 2007.

Programs / Education

Family Field Trips explore the lighthouse through history, math and art questions, such as why the tower is shaped like a cone and how a lightkeeper knew how much oil was left. The program runs Mondays and Thursdays at 11 am and 1 pm, at $12 per adult and $8 per child, with reservations and prepayment at 609-449-1360.

Schools and groups can book tours and overnights through the Operations and Education coordinator at the same number. Wacky Wednesdays, a summer series of themed kids' crafts, is free for children 12 and under.

Things to See & Do

Climb the 228 steps to the watchroom for the skyline views and a close look at the original first-order Fresnel lens. Back on the ground, the Keeper's House museum has rare historic photographs and the story of the lighthouse and its restoration, and the original Oil House holds the Fresnel lens exhibit.

Browse the gift shop, walk the grounds and see the community garden, which has 21 beds. In summer, Wacky Wednesdays crafts are made for kids.

Special / Seasonal Events

Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey, October 17 and 18, 2026. Absecon is one of the sites on the weekend challenge to visit 11 lighthouse sites, 4 life-saving stations and 1 museum. Registration is $10 at any site and includes the 2026 souvenir, a book of Revolutionary War stories from places along the coast, with a sticker to collect at each stop. Climbing is not required to finish.

Wacky Wednesdays run all summer with themed crafts, free for children 12 and under.

Luminary Light Festival, Friday, December 4, 2026, 5 to 7 pm. A full moon climb, caroling, DJ tunes, a tree lighting and a specialty cheese and wine tasting, at a $25 per person donation.

Lens anniversary, Friday, January 15, 2027. Celebrates 170 years since the first lighting. Kids 12 and under climb free, and adults get two-for-one climbs from 11 am to 3:30 pm.

Admission & Guidelines

The climbing fee is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6 for children 4 to 12, and $5 for Atlantic City residents with ID. Kids under 4 and active duty military climb free. Coupons apply only to the climbing rate.

Hours / Season of Operation

September through June, the lighthouse is open Thursday through Monday, 11 am to 4 pm, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. In July and August it is open daily, 10 am to 5 pm. The last tower climb of the day is always a half hour before closing.