East Point Lighthouse
Second-oldest lighthouse in NJ on Delaware Bay. Cape Cod style in a prime birdwatching location.
43
Feet Tall
1849
Year Built
Yes
Open to Public
About East Point Lighthouse
East Point Lighthouse, the second-oldest lighthouse in New Jersey, marks the entrance to the Maurice River on Delaware Bay. This Cape Cod-style lighthouse sits in a remote, beautiful setting popular with birdwatchers.
History
East Point Lighthouse was built in 1849 to guide oystermen and other mariners into the Maurice River. The Delaware Bay oyster industry was booming, and safe navigation was critical.
The lighthouse survived a devastating fire in 1971 that destroyed most of the interior. Volunteers from the Maurice River Historical Society spent years restoring it.
Today, East Point sits at a critical location for migrating shorebirds. Each May, the surrounding beaches host millions of horseshoe crabs whose eggs feed migrating red knots and other shorebirds.
Notable Facts
- •Second-oldest lighthouse in New Jersey (1849)
- •Located at a critical shorebird migration point
- •Survived devastating 1971 fire and was restored by volunteers
- •Cape Cod architectural style unusual for NJ lighthouses
- •Delaware Bay oyster industry drove its construction
Visiting Tips
Photography Tips
Technical Details
- Style
- Cape Cod style
- Material
- brick
- Lens
- Modern optic
- Light
- Flashing white every 6 seconds
- Region
- Delaware Bay
- County
- cumberland