Still Shining After All These Years …

With all of the high rise buildings and casino towers now surrounding it — including the new 710 foot-tall Revel — it’s easy to overlook the Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, which turned 155 years old last week.

The story of the Absecon Lighthouse began back in 1854 when the United States government purchased the land where the lighthouse sits for a mere $520. Construction began in 1855; the beacon at the top was first lit on January 15, 1857, and was visible almost 22 miles out to sea. In July, 1933, the lighthouse was decommissioned and went dark. It wasn’t until 1963 that the light was turned back on. To give you an idea of the height of the lighthouse versus the casinos around it,  I took this picture in 1999 from the roof of the Trump Taj Mahal, looking down on the 169 foot lighthouse from about 450 feet.

The Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey’s tallest (it’s about 12 feet taller than the Cape May Light) and the third tallest in the nation. And yes, for a small fee, you can climb the 228 steps to the top and catch quite a view of Atlantic City. It’s a unique way to see all of the casinos that now dot the landscape from something that was part of the city over a century before slot machines were everywhere.

Thanks to Townsquare Media's Chris Coleman for sharing this article.