Barnegat Lighthouse

Known as “Old Barney”, the red and white lighthouse on Long Beach Island in New Jersey was first lit on January 1, 1859.  It stands 165 feet tall, making it the second tallest lighthouse in the United States.  A flash once every 10 seconds (at each point of the compass) makes it visible for approximately 30 miles.  The Barnegat Lighthouse is a symbol of the Jersey Shore and offers a superb view from the top.  The lighthouse was only truly operational until August 1927 when the light was automated and replaced the first-order lens with a gas blinker, thus decreasing the brightness of the light by 80 percent.  Several weeks later, the gas blinker was replaced by a 250-watt bulb.  Although the Barnegat Lighthouse was officially decommissioned in 1944, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.