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 | |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
1. Sandy Hook Marker
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 theres 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 Hooks role in navigation and the defense of our nation.
[Caption:]
Historic resources abound in and around Fort Hancockfrom 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
this page online
Location. 40° 25.615′ N, 73° 59.058′ W. Marker is in Middletown Township, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. It is in Sandy Hook. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s Central Jersey, specifically on the Jersey Shore, and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
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
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
2. Markers on Sandy Hook
There are several markers found near the Sandy Hook Visitor Center. This marker, the leftmost in the photo, is part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
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
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
3. Sandy Hook Visitor Center
Spermaceti Cove Station No. 2, built in 1894 by the United States Life-Saving Service as a rescue station, today serves as the visitor center at Sandy Hook. The marker is located on the north side of this structure.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark. National Park Service Gateway National Recreation Area website entry (Submitted on December 29, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. National Park Service 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.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
4. Fort Hancock
For over a century, Fort Hancock protected the approach to New York Harbor. The first disappearing gun battery was installed here in 1893. During the Cold War, Fort Hancock was the home of Nike missiles, like those seen in the photo. Fort Hancock was decommissioned in 1972.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
5. Sandy Hook Lighthouse
Built in 1764, the Sandy Hook lighthouse was the scene of an attack during the Revolutionary War when Colonial forces attempted to destroy it after it was seized by British troops. An hour of cannon assault failed and the lighthouse remained in British hands for the rest of the war.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
6. Fortifications at Fort Hancock
These are the remains of concrete batteries built in Fort Hancock to defend against long range naval cannons. These are locate several miles north of the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,690 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
