Barnegat Bay Decoy & Baymen's
Museum
At the entrance porch to the museum is a replica hunting shanty with a lifelike
display of "master" carver, Harry V. Shourds, a world class decoy
carver and one of Tuckerton's famous baymen.
Museum exhibits illustrate the life of a Barnegat Bay bayman-hunting, fishing,
clamming, oystering, boat building, decoy carving, charter fishing-and the
history of the U.S. Life Saving Service along the Jersey shore.
Directions: From exit 58 on the Garden State Parkway, follow county
road 539 southeast to Tuckerton. Proceed south on US 9, to Tip Seaman Park.
Hours: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am to
4:30pm.
Telephone: (609) 296-8868.
Barnegat Lighthouse State
Park
Towering 165 feet, the Barnegat Lighthouse
was erected in 1857-58 to warn mariners of Barnegat Inlet's dangerous shoals
and to guide trans-Atlantic ships toward New York Harbor. Ship Captains, who
wanted a coastal light, complained frequently in the 1850s that under good
conditions, the original 40 foot lighthouse could be seen for ten miles. But,
if the weather was hazy, no one could tell if the light was from the lighthouse
tower or from another ship.
The lighthouse was turned over to the state park system in 1944, and now
thousands of visitors climb its tower annually. It is probably one of the
most photographed lighthouses in the state.
The park also contains several habitats typical of barrier islands. The sandy
beach is the breeding site of several beach nesting birds, such as the endangered
piping plover. Barnegat Lighthouse is also a good area for observing the fall
warbler migrations.
A short self-guided loop trail provides an opportunity to explore one of
the last remaining maritime forests on Long Beach Island. The bayside provides
a great view of Barnegat Inlet, Barnegat Bay, and Barnegat Estuary. Picnicking,
fishing, beach walking, and birding are just a few of the recreational opportunities.
Directions: From the Garden State Parkway, take exit 63. Follow state
road 72 east onto Long Beach Island, then north on county road 607 to the
very north end of the island.
Hours: The park is open daily, and the lighthouse is open throughout
the summer and only on weekends in the spring and fall.
Telephone: (609) 494-2016.
Belford Seafood CO-OP
The Belford CO-OP is a cooperative commercial
fishing operation located on the shores of Sandy Hook Bay. The community of
Belford is more than 200 years old and reported to be the oldest fishing port
on the east coast. Many of its fishermen are third and fourth generation.
It maintains a fleet of approximately 50 boats, including 18-20 lobster boats,
7-8 clamming boats, and three seining boats. A retail sales outlet for fresh
seafood and a restaurant are maintained at the site.
Directions: To reach Belford, take exit 117 from the Garden State
Parkway and follow state road 36 east to Main Street, Port Monmouth. Turn
north on Main to Port Monmouth Road, then east to the co-op.
Hours: The interpretive exhibit for this site is accessible only during
daylight hours. The retail outlet is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am
to 4:30pm, and Sunday from 8:30am to 12:00noon.
Telephone: (732) 787-6509.
Cape May Point State Park
The park is a
combination of an ever changing shoreline, sand dunes, coastal freshwater
marsh and ponds, wooded islands and varied uplands. It is perhaps best known
as a tranquil area where the visitor may find rest and enjoy the beauty of
nature.
Cape May Point is a popular bird-watching site. It is not only a home for
many species but also a feeding and resting area for birds migrating south
along the Atlantic flyway. Although both spring and fall migrations occur,
the fall is the best time to observe song birds, waterfowl, shorebirds, sea
birds, and birds of prey.
Cape May Lighthouse is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic
Places. It has been an important navigational aid to seagoing mariners since
its construction in 1859. The lighthouse is located within Cape May Point
State Park at the southern tip of New Jersey.
There is an admission charge for the lighthouse tower which is operated by
the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts.
Picnicking, beach walking, birding, a museum, and museum shop help round
out a visit to this site. WWII coastal defense gun emplacements, now battling
the elements of erosion and the encroaching sea, can still be seen here.
Directions: Take county road 606 (Sunset Boulevard) west from Cape
May, towards Cape May Point. Watch for Trail blazers and turn south via CR629
(Lighthouse Avenue).
Hours: The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. The lighthouse is
open daily from April to mid-October and weekends from mid-February to March
and mid-October to January 1st. It is closed January to mid-February. Visitors
are encouraged to call for specific hours of operation during these various
periods throughout the year.
Telephone: (609) 884-2159 for the park (609) 884-5404 for the lighthouse.
Delaware Bay Schooner Project
The Schooner Project
was founded in 1988 to educate the citizens of the Delaware Estuary watershed
about the region's natural resources and maritime culture.
The Project owns and operates the 1928 Delaware Bay oyster schooner
A.J. Meerwald at the historic oyster shipping sheds on the Maurice River
in Bivalve. The schooner provides educational cruises and special on-board
programs for school children and the public. The project also maintains the
Delaware Bay Museum in Port Norris with exhibits highlighting maritime traditions
of the Delaware Bay.
Directions: The museum is located at 1727 Main Street, Port Norris.
From county road 553 turn south on High St. in Port Norris and follow the
signs to the schooner, docked behind the Project office at 2800 High Street.
Hours: The museum is open April through October from 1:00pm to 4:30pm
on Saturday and Sunday. The Schooner wharf is open year-round; call ahead
for sail schedule.
Telephone: (856) 785-2060 or 1-800-485-3072.
East Point Lighthouse
Constructed in 1849, this
"Cape Cod" style lighthouse provided Delaware Bay oyster schooners
with a navigational marker to the ports of Port Norris, Millville, Mauricetown,
and Port Elizabeth. It is the second oldest lighthouse still standing in New
Jersey. In the spring, observe the annual migration of thousands of shore
birds, especially in late May when the horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay
eggs.
Directions: Follow county road 616 (Glade Road) west from state road
47 to Heislerville, and continue west on East Point Road.
Hours: The lighthouse is undergoing restoration, and the building
interior is not open to the public except for special events. There is an
annual "open house" on the first Saturday of August.
Telephone: (856) 327-3714 (a business office).
Finn's Point National Cemetery
The cemetery is the resting place for the remains of 2,436 Confederate soldiers
whose military careers ended as prisoners of war under the custody of the
Federal Union. These men were interned near here at Fort Delaware on Pea Patch
Island. Many had been captured during the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3,
1863. One hundred thirty-five Union soldiers who died while serving as guards
at the prison camp, are also buried here. Interpretive exhibits provide information
about the cemetery's history.
Directions: Follow directions to Fort Mott State Park. At the entrance to
the state park, turn right and follow the signs for the cemetery.
Hours: Open daily, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Telephone: (609) 877-5460 or (856) 935-3628.
Finns Point Rear Range Light
The Finns Point Front
and Rear Range lights served as a point of entry and exit between the Delaware
Bay and River for maritime traffic moving up and down the river. In 1950,
after the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the river channel to 800 feet wide
and 40 feet deep, the Finns Point range lights became obsolete.
The light was restored in 1983 through the efforts of the "Save the
Lighthouse Committee," a local citizen's group, and by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. Interpretive exhibits demonstrate how range lights were
used by mariners navigating the river channel.
Directions: Follow directions to Fort Mott State Park. It is located at the
intersection of county roads 630 & 632.
Hours: Interpretive exhibits are accessible during daylight hours. The lighthouse
is open for visitors to climb into the light tower from noon to 4:00pm on
the third Sunday of each month from April through October. Group requests
accepted.
Telephone: (856) 935-1487.
Forked River State Marina
This beautifully maintained marina contains 125 slips in the 20 to 55 foot
range and has become a focal point for the community of Forked River. The
site on which the administration building now stands formerly housed a full
service gas station. The old building was demolished and the new facility
constructed in 1990.
Directions: Take exit 69 of the Garden State Parkway northbound, onto
county road 532 and east to US9 north. Southbound from the GSP, take exit
74 to CR614 (Lacey Road), and east to US9 south. The marina is located on
US9, approximately nine miles south of the Toms River area.
Hours: The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Telephone: (609) 693-5045.
Fortescue State Marina
Fortescue is rightfully known as the "Weakfish Capital of the World."
The marina was purchased by the State of New Jersey in the late 1930's. Its
initial purpose was to aid in the enforcement of shellfish fisheries management
in the Delaware Bay. The marina is operated under a lease agreement by the
Fortescue Captains and Boat Owners Association. Although personal vessels
are berthed here, the majority of the slips contain charter vessels (both
large and small).
Directions: The marina can be reached via county roads 553 and 656
to Newport and continuing south on CR637 to Fortescue.
Hours: An interpretive exhibit on the history of New Jersey marinas
is accessible during daylight hours.
Telephone: (856) 447-5115.
Fort Mott State Park
Built for the federal government's post Civil War coastal defense plan of
defending Delaware River ports, Fort Mott was part of a three-fort coastal
defense system which also included Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island and Fort
DuPont in Delaware City, Delaware. Its big 10 and 12 inch guns were mounted
on disappearing carriages with an effective range of eight to ten miles, sufficient
to match or out-range the guns of contemporary naval vessels.
Welcome Center exhibits on the maritime history theme and Trail information
are available.
Directions: Heading east on state road 49, take county road 630 (Fort Mott
Road); heading west on SR49, take CR632 (Lighthouse Road), and follow the
Fort Mott State Park signs.
Hours: The grounds of the fort are open daily from 8:00am to 7:30pm, Memorial
Day to Labor Day and 8:00am to 4:00pm, the remainder of the year.
Telephone: (856) 935-3218.
Greenwich Tea Burning Monument
Cumberland County was a hotbed of patriotic fervor in the months and weeks
prior to the first shot which began the American Revolutionary War. It was
in the town square of Greenwich on December 22, 1774, where two groups of
young men dressed as Indians broke open a supply of East India tea, bound
for consignment at the port of Philadelphia, and burned it, in protest to
the heavy British taxes levied on the American colonists. The Cumberland
County Historical Society unveiled a monument on the site in commemoration
of the event.
Directions: From state road 49 westbound, take county road 607 south
at Bridgeton. Eastbound on SR49, take CR620 south at Shiloh, then left onto
CR623 (Ye Greate Street) in Greenwich.
Hours: Accessible daylight hours only.
Telephone: (856) 455-4055 (Cumberland County Historical Society).
Hancock House State Historic Site
Built in 1734 by Judge
William Hancock, the house is remembered as the site where a massacre took
place during the American Revolution on the morning of March 21, 1778. A British
force of nearly 300 men surprised and bayoneted a small band of 30 colonial
militiamen who were stationed there.
The house is a fine example of "pattern brick architecture" with
the initials of William and Sarah Hancock, the year of construction, and a
herringbone pattern displayed on the west wall of the house.
Directions: From state road 49 in Salem, follow county road 658 south to
Hancocks Bridge.
Hours: The house interior is not open. The grounds and interpretive exhibits
are accessible during daylight hours.
Telephone: (856) 935-3218 (Ft. Mott).
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
This "Great Victorian" lighthouse has guided local mariners along
the Jersey Shore since its construction in 1874. Its fourth-order lantern
and lens, 53 feet above sea level, was originally a fixed white light but
was changed to a flashing red and white light in 1897.
Local volunteer efforts restored the old lighthouse, which permitted the
community of North Wildwood to open the station to the public. It is on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Next door is the old Hereford Inlet Coast Guard Station now operated by the
NJ Marine Police.
Directions: The lighthouse is located in North Wildwood on Central
Avenue, between First and Chestnut Streets. Southbound Garden State Parkway
traffic can take state road 147 from exit 6 to North Wildwood.
Hours: The lighthouse is open April 1st through late October, from
9:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Saturday and from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Sunday.
It is closed the remainder of the year.
Telephone: (609) 522-4520.
Island Beach State Park
One of the best examples of barrier island ecosystems. The sandy beach on
the ocean side blends into the coastal sand dunes formed by the wind and held
in place by American beach grass and beach heather. More plants grow on the
dunes farther from the ocean's salt spray and in the protected depressions
between the dunes. Even trees have taken root to form a maritime forest. Look
for gulls and terns, red fox, turtles, and other inhabitants of the barrier
island habitat. This is also home for New Jersey's largest nesting osprey
colony.
The wildlife migrations at Island Beach are often spectacular and are not
limited to birds. Although warblers and waterfowl are the more popular migrants,
butterflies, bluefish, striped bass, marine mammals, and sea turtles also
migrate through the area.
Island Beach State Park offers naturalist-conducted activities, an interpretive
center, a nature center, trails, guided canoe trips, and beach recreation.
A fully accessible "beach to bay" boardwalk trail provides interpretive
opportunities and a unique transect of a barrier island. An entrance fee is
charged at the gate.
LSS Station #14: The evolving history of the U.S. Life Saving Service can
still be found along New Jersey's barrier islands. At one time, three life
saving stations provided shore rescue services for Island Beach. This site,
now the park maintenance facility, was the original station #14 (later identified
as #110) when the U.S. Life Saving Service began in 1848. By 1915, approximately
178,000 people, shipwrecked along the Atlantic seaboard, owed their lives
to the heroic efforts of the LSS.
An interpretive exhibit explains the role of the U.S. Life Saving Service
along the Jersey Shore.
Directions: From the Garden State Parkway take exit 82 to state road
37, east through Toms River and across Barnegat Bay to Island Beach. Turn
south to Seaside Park via county road 35.
Hours: Open weekdays from 8:00am to 8:00pm (or until dark) and on weekends
from 7:00am to 8:00pm (or until dark).
Telephone: (732) 793-0506.
Leonardo State Marina
The marina remains one of the most popular and desirable state facilities,
largely due to its proximity to Sandy Hook Inlet and the fruitful fishing
grounds of Sandy Hook Bay. It includes 179 slips and is capable of accommodating
boats up to 45 feet in length. On-site facilities include a luncheonette,
bait and tackle facility, restrooms, a pump-out station, and boat fueling
station.
Directions: Take exit 117 from the Garden State Parkway east along
state road 36 to the community of Leonardo. Take Leonard Avenue north toward
Sandy Hook Bay, turn left on Center Avenue, and right onto Concord Avenue
to the marina.
Hours: The marina office is open daily from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Telephone: (732) 291-1333.
Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook
This high point (266 feet above sea level) provides visitors
with a panoramic view of Sandy Hook Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, the New York
City skyline, and historic Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse at Gateway
National Recreation Area. Geologic forces created the uplift. The overlook
is part of the Monmouth County Park System.
Directions: From exit 117 of the Garden State Parkway,
follow state road 36 east to the community of Atlantic Highlands. Take the
Navesink Avenue/Scenic Drive jughandle (on the right), and follow the signs
to the park entrance. Roughly one quarter mile north of SR36.
Hours: The park is open daily from 8:00am to dusk.
Telephone: (732) 842-4000.
Perth Amboy Harbor Walk
Waterfront resources under development as part of the Harbor Walk include
the 1904 Ferry Slip to Tottenville, Municipal Marina, 1929 Armory, ca. 1880
Raritan Yacht Club headquarters, 1880 Great Beds Light, and ca. 1780 Kearny
Cottage. Except for Great Beds Light which sits in the waters of Raritan Bay,
all are located near the waterfront on Smith Street, Front Street, Water Street,
and Catalpa Avenue.
Directions: From Exit 10 of the New Jersey Turnpike, take state road
440 east to the State Street exit. Continue on State Street until you come
to the intersection with Lewis Street. Turn right on Lewis for one block,
then left on Catalpa, and follow it to the waterfront.
Hours: A public park area, generally open from dawn to dusk. You may
call the City of Perth Amboy for details.
Telephone: (732) 442-6421.
Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National
Recreation Area
Sandy Hook is a 1665 acres barrier
beach peninsula located at the northern tip of the New Jersey Shore. It is
the result of sediment moved by the longshore current piling up. The Hook
features seven miles of ocean beaches, the waters of the Sandy Hook Bay, salt
marsh, dunes, a maritime forest, and habitat for migratory shorebirds.
Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook Light & Dwelling, and the Spermaceti Cove Life
Saving Service Station #2
The Sandy Hook Unit includes multiple maritime history destinations, all
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sandy Hook Lighthouse
has guided ships into New York Harbor since 1764. The US Army first fortified
the Hook in the War of 1812 and later tested weapons at the Sandy Hook Proving
Ground. A century ago, Fort Hancock and a series of gun batteries were built
to protect the harbor and the fort served this role until 1974.
Today many of Fort Hancock's buildings are used by environmental and educational
groups. The Fort Hancock story is told at the Sandy Hook Museum, and History
House, a restored home on "Officer's Row."
Swimming, hiking, fishing, wind surfing, bird-watching, and ranger-guided
programs are just a few of the recreational opportunities at Sandy Hook. On
busy summer days, the park advises visitors to arrive early in the day as
it often reaches its maximum carrying capacity before noon. Visitors can expect
to find the usual amenities of a National Park System unit.
Directions: Take state road 36 east from exit 117 of the Garden State
Parkway to the community of Highlands, and follow the signs to the park.
Hours: The visitor center operates daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. It
is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Telephone: (732) 872-0115.
Senator Frank S. Farley State Marina
The marina was originally
constructed in the late 1950s as a joint effort between the State of New Jersey
and the city of Atlantic City to revitalize the pleasure boat industry in
the city. In the early 1980s, New Jersey's Division of Parks and Forestry
initiated proposals to rehabilitate Farley as it was quickly slipping from
its status as the "show place" marina of the East Coast. Budgetary
constraints contributed to its further decline and eventually lead to an agreement
between the State and Trump Castle Associates. Three and one-half years and
30 million dollars later, Trump had demolished the old facility and constructed
a new expanded premier marina. TCA now operates Farley under a lease agreement
with the Department of Environmental Protection. Its 640 slips are capable
of berthing boats from under 20 feet to over 300 feet.
An Interpretive exhibit provides information about New Jersey's maritime
history and the changing role of marinas. Historic Gardiner's Basin can be
seen in the view south of the marina.
Directions: As you enter Atlantic City, follow the highway directional
signs to Trump Marina Hotel and Casino (located at the intersection of US
30 and Brigantine Boulevard) and Huron Avenue to reach the marina. It is located
next to U.S. Coast Guard Station, Atlantic City.
Hours: The marina office is open May 15 to June 30 from 7:00am to
10:00pm and July 1 to Labor Day from 7:00am to 2:00am. Hours vary the remainder
of the year.
Telephone: (609) 441-8482.
Steamboat Dock Museum
The Steamboat Dock Museum of the Keyport Historical Society interprets the
history and maritime traditions of Keyport which was first settled as a private
plantation in 1714 by the Kearny family. By the 1830s, Keyport had become
a major port for oystering and for produce on its way to New York City.
Directions: Keyport can be reached by following state road 36 east
from exit 117 of the Garden State Parkway. County road 4 (Broad Street) connects
SR36 to the waterfront at the museum.
Hours: Open May through September, on Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
and on Monday from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Guided tours are available by appointment.
Telephone: (732) 739-6390.
Toms River Seaport Society
Museum
The Society's headquarters and museum was once the carriage house for the
famous inventor, Joseph Francis. His corrugated metal "lifecar"
is credited with saving thousands of lives-victims of shipwrecks along the
Atlantic coast and around the world. The museum includes a boat workshop and
display sheds.
The working museum exhibits and actively refurbishes more than 25 indigenous
watercraft, including the Barnegat Bay Sneak Box and the Jersey Skiff. These
were specialized craft developed by mariners and local "baymen"
to harvest waterfowl, clams, crabs, fish, and oysters.
Directions: From exit 81 of the Garden State Parkway, follow Water
Street east to Hooper Avenue. The museum is located at 78 Water Street, with
parking on Hooper Avenue.
Hours: The museum is open Tuesday and Saturday (except holidays) from
10:00am to 2:00pm.
Telephone: (732) 349-9209.
Twin Lights State Historic Site
The Navesink Lighthouse
station, known as Twin Lights State Historic Site, was an important maritime
navigational aid for ships entering and leaving ports off the northern New
Jersey coast and New York Harbor. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of
the north tower, the museum, and grounds. On the site is one of the original
life boat stations built by the U.S. Government to assist shipwrecked victims
along the Jersey Shore. It was moved to its present location in 1954.
Directions: Take state road 36 east from exit 117 of the Garden State Parkway
to the community of Highlands, and follow signs to the park. Oversized vehicles
and trailers are restricted from the access road.
Hours: Open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm - Memorial Day through Labor
Day, and Wednesday through Sunday from September through May.
Telephone: (732) 872-1814.
U.S. Coast Guard Station,
Atlantic City
When constructed in 1941, it was the largest Coast Guard station in existence.
With a crew of 44 men and women and five boats, the station handles approximately
450 calls for assistance annually from two locations, Atlantic City and Ocean
City. Aid is rendered to distressed boaters as far as thirty miles offshore.
Missions include: search and rescue, law enforcement, and marine environmental
protection.
The station grounds include a short self-guided interpretive walk with a
handout providing information about the station's history and the plant and
animal struggle for survival on coastal barrier islands. A wayside interpretive
exhibit explains the history of the U.S. Coast Guard and its role in providing
emergency maritime services.
Directions: The station is located at the end of Huron Avenue. As
you enter Atlantic City, follow the signs for the Trump Castle/Marina Hotel
& Casino located adjacent to the intersection of US 30 and state road
87 (Brigantine Boulevard.)
Hours: Open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm unless the crew is involved
in responding to an emergency call. Please note, there is no smoking while
at this facility.
Telephone: (609) 344-6594.
U.S. Coast Guard Station,
Barnegat Light
Perhaps one of the most treacherous of New Jersey's barrier island inlets,
this central coast area suffered nearly 200 shipwrecks within a ten year period
during the 1840s. Today, the crew of Coast Guard Station, Barnegat Light provides
assistance to boaters who have trouble navigating the strong waves and shifting
sands of the inlet.
An interpretive wayside exhibit explains the role of the U.S. Coast Guard
in the history of our nation's maritime developments.
Directions: From exit 63 or 63A of the Garden State Parkway, follow
state road 72 east to Long Beach Island. Turn north on county road 607 to
the far north end of the island. The station, located on the corner of 6th
and Bayview.
Hours: Open daily unless the crew is called out on an emergency.
Telephone: (609) 494-2680.
