“She’s never been above the first landing,” says Moran, who regularly presides over a breathtaking view of the Atlantic City coast from the historic tower, built in 1854.   

Some hesitate to make the climb, which at 228 steps straight up makes Absecon the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey. But if the trek is a bit arduous (“They come up here huffing and puffing,” says Moran) the view from the top is well worth it.

At the summit, peer up at the original first-order Fresnel lens, which illuminates the tower. Then dare to step out onto the narrow observation deck for a fine look at Brigantine Island to the east, Ocean City to the west, as well as all of Atlantic City below.
The inlet where the lighthouse stands was once the summer enclave of wealthy Philadelphians. Over the years, with the glory days of Atlantic City long past, the region and the city as a whole became depressed. Now the neighborhood is the center of coming redevelopment, with the Absecon Lighthouse signaling its rebirth.
But Absecon Lighthouse is not just a regional phenomenon. Along with lighthouses around the country, “It’s an important part of American history, because American history is nautical history,” says Moran.
The 150-year-old structure is hosting a yearlong celebration of its 150th birthday, with special events every 15th of the month. This month, it’s Celebrating Our Community Day, in which members of service organizations (Elks, Rotary, Kiwanis, RNS, Masons, etc.) are invited to see the light for free. On April 15, it’s the Spring Fling, with details to be announced.
Also upcoming: a performance of the murder mystery, “Lighthouse with a Dim Bulb,” on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. When the Jersey Devil is seen at the lighthouse, three lighthouse keepers race to the top in hot pursuit. But only two come down. To learn what happens next, catch this “killer event,” with tickets at $20 per person, $15 for members. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 449-1360.
Volunteer, photographer and former fashion design Elinor Veit, who authored the children’s book, “The Colors of the Lighthouse,” has loved lighthouses since she was a little girl. But her first look at Absecon was disappointing.
“It was overgrown and graffiti-covered,” says Veit. “But I thought, ‘If I can criticize, I can help.’”
Now Veit is a tireless advocate for the lighthouse, which underwent a major renovation in the 1990s. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” she says. “But today, this lighthouse is the prettiest thing around.”

Absecon Lighthouse
31 South Rhode Island Ave.
Atlantic City
Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Monday, Sept.-June  
Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children 4-12

On the way to Cape May
A beloved beacon for passing ships  

CAPE MAY POINT—One of the celebrated “three tall sisters,” which includes the Absecon and Barnegat lighthouses, the lighthouse at Cape May Point—with its mighty white tower and bright red lantern—is a familiar landmark to anyone leaving or approaching the summer resort island. 
Unlike Absecon Lighthouse, which is set against an urban backdrop, Cape May Lighthouse is located by the windswept dunes of Cape May Point at the state’s southernmost tip, and looks much as it must have to sailors at sea during the 1800s.
The 218-step tower is flanked by a historic Oil House and a Museum Shop offering maritime memorabilia.
The climb is (literally) breathtaking, as attested by the following, taken from a Cape May newspaper, circa 1882: “The gentleman superintendent in charge, Mr. Samuel Stillwell, takes pleasure in showing visitors who have the nerve and strength of limb to the top, the interior of the lantern, and explaining the interesting operations of the light ... A very picturesque view of the sea, bay, and country may also be obtained from the giddy heights of the edifice.”
The beacon is still operational (though now automated). Under the auspices of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC), an organization dedicated to the preservation of Cape May’s heritage, the structure was exhaustively restored during the 1990s and is now a favorite way station among Cape May visitors (more than 100,000 visit each year).
While you’re there, enjoy the rugged terrain, wild walkways and beautiful beaches at Cape May Point State Park.

Cape May Lighthouse
Lighthouse Ave.
Cape May Point
Open daily April-November; hours vary
Admission: $6 adults, $2 children