Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
Victorian stick-style lighthouse with award-winning gardens. A peaceful oasis near the Wildwood boardwalk.
49
Feet Tall
1874
Year Built
Yes
Open to Public
Plan Your Visit
⏰Hours
May - October
Weekdays: 9am - 5pm
Weekends: 9am - 5pm
Gardens open year-round, dawn to dusk.
🎟️Admission
🅿️Parking
Street parking on Central Ave. Free 2-hour parking.
♿Accessibility
First floor and gardens are accessible.
🏛️Managed By
City of North Wildwood
About Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a beautifully preserved Victorian stick-style lighthouse surrounded by award-winning gardens. This charming wooden lighthouse offers a peaceful contrast to the nearby Wildwood boardwalk bustle.
History
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was built in 1874 in the distinctive Victorian stick-style architecture popular in that era. Unlike the towering brick lighthouses of the Shore, this wooden structure served a different purpose - marking the entrance to Hereford Inlet for fishing boats and small craft.
The lighthouse operated continuously until 1964 when the Coast Guard automated it. It fell into disrepair until 1982 when the City of North Wildwood took ownership and began a loving restoration.
Today, the lighthouse is famous as much for its gardens as its history. Lighthouse keepers traditionally maintained gardens, and the current English-style gardens honor that tradition beautifully.
Notable Facts
- •One of the few wooden lighthouses remaining in New Jersey
- •Victorian stick-style architecture is rare for lighthouses
- •Award-winning English gardens with over 200 plant varieties
- •Original Fourth Order Fresnel lens still in use
- •One of only a few lighthouses where you can see keeper's quarters
Visiting Tips
Photography Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you climb Hereford Inlet Lighthouse?▼
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is not climbable, but it is open to the public for tours and visits.
How tall is Hereford Inlet Lighthouse?▼
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse stands 49 feet (15 meters) tall, making it one of the notable lighthouses on the Jersey Shore.
When was Hereford Inlet Lighthouse built?▼
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was built in 1874. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was built in 1874 in the distinctive Victorian stick-style architecture popular in that era.
How much does it cost to visit Hereford Inlet Lighthouse?▼
Adult admission is $5.
Technical Details
- Style
- Victorian stick-style
- Material
- wood
- Lens
- Fourth Order Fresnel
- Light
- Fixed white
- Region
- South Shore
- County
- cape-may