Sandy Hook in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sandy Hook
Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
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 Features • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1764.
Location. 40° 25.615′ N, 73° 59.058′ W. Marker is in Middletown Township, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. It is in Sandy Hook. Marker can be reached from Hartshorne Drive, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Sandy Hook Visitor Center. 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. Spermaceti Cove Station No. 2 (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Life-Saving Station / Spermaceti Cove - Holly Forest (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Sandy Hook (approx. 0.2 miles away); Discover Sandy Hook (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nike Missile Site (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Sandy Hook (approx. ¾ mile away); British Embarkation (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Sandy Hook (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown Township.
More about this marker. The right side of the marker features a map of Sandy Hook, indicating the location of the marker at the Sandy Hook Visitor Center, and other sights such as Fort Hancock, the lighthouse, and the Sandy Hook Proving Ground. The left of the marker contains a series of photographs. The first depicts the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and has a caption of “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.” Under this is a photo of “Officers’ Row at Fort Hancock.” A ranger-led group is seen in the next picture, which has a caption of “Birdwatching is best along the Old Dune Trail, Spermaceti Cove, Horseshoe Cove, and around Fort Hancock.” The last picture is of a fisherman at the water’s edge, with the caption “Bluefish, striped bass, fluke and flounder are abundant in Sandy Hook’s ocean and bay waters. Fishing is permitted at all beaches, except those reserved and guarded for swimming.”
Also see . . .
1. New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. National Park Service website. (Submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Fort Hancock. NY Harbor Parks website. (Submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. Sandy Hook Lighthouse, NJ. Lighthouse Friends website. (Submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,229 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.