228 Steps...One amazing Journey

Absecon Lighthouse can be found in the heart of Atlantic City, just north of the casinos. It is in an area which is currently be revitalized. The lighthouse and the keepers dwelling were completely refurbished in 2001.

The lighthouse was built by General George Meade in 1857 on sand dunes close to the water. It is about three blocks from the Barnegat/Absecon inlet. It sported a first-order Fresnel lens which is still located in the tower. It is the only lighthouse in New Jersey to have the first order lens still in its rightful place.

Climbing up the 228 steps gives a spectacular view of the Atlantic City area, as well as Brigantine across the inlet.

The lighthouse has gone through numerous color changes. Each lighthouse has a distinctive color scheme or daymarker so ships at day can see which lighthouse they are coming up to. Originally the color scheme was white with a red band, but was later changed to yellowish white with a black band. It is felt the color change occurred because it was too similar to Barnegat Lighthouse and the two were easily confused. It was decommissioned in 1933 and the color scheme reverted back to the original red and white. Now that it has been refurbished, it is once again back to the yellowish white and black.

The lighthouse is on the corner of Pacific and Rhode Island Avenues. To get to the lighthouse, just walk north along the Boardwalk (the ocean should be on your right) from the casinos. It is about 7 blocks from the Showboat Casino. Once you pass the Showboat, on your left you will see it rising above the buildings that surround it.

Absecon sits on two acres of land and has it's own off-street parking at Vermont Ave.

I really do suggest taking time out from the casinos, the beach and the Boardwalk to visit the lighthouse. Atlantic City is in the process of fixing this area up.