Sandy Hook in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sandy Hook
Gateway National Recreational Area, Sandy Hook Unit
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 15, 2022
Stretching off the northern tip of the New Jersey Shore, the 1,650 acre peninsula preserves six miles of ocean beaches enjoyed by more than two million visitors a year. But there’s much more.
Beyond its well-known beaches, sand dunes and salt marshes extend to Sandy Hook Bay. These coastal environments support and array of wildlife, including more than 300 species of migratory and native birds. Offshore, dozens of fish species and other aquatic life thrive in these waters.
Sandy Hook has history, too. Its lighthouse, the oldest in the nation, has guided shipping since 1764. Forts here protected New York Harbor for two centuries. Explore Fort Hancock and discover Sandy Hook’s role in navigation and the defense of our nation.
[Caption:]
Historic resources abound in and around Fort Hancock—from the 1764 Sandy Hook Lighthouse to 1890s Endicott fortification to the remains of the Sandy Hook Proving Ground.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Communications • Forts and Castles • Natural Resources • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1764.
Location. 40° 25.762′ N, 73° 59.053′ W. Marker is in Middletown Township, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. It is in Sandy Hook. Marker can be reached from Hartshorne Drive, 3.4 miles north of New Jersey Route 36, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Highlands NJ 07732, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Discover Sandy Hook (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Sandy Hook (approx. 0.2 miles away); U.S. Life-Saving Station / Spermaceti Cove - Holly Forest (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spermaceti Cove Station No. 2 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nike Missile Site (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Sandy Hook (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Nike Missile Site (approx. 1.4 miles away); British Embarkation (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown Township.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 15, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 18, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.