East Point (Maurice River)

1904

1913

United States

4th order

Fixed

White Flashing. white light, 3 s on, 3 s off; red sector covers nearby shoal.

White structure with re roof with black lantern room. 40 ft (12 m) octagonal cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on the roof of a 2-1/2 story brick keeper's house; 250 mm lens. Light tower painted white, lantern black; building roofs are red.

None

Excerpt: Ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the State of New Jersey in 1955. The interior was gutted by a fire in 1971. Local volunteers have worked ever since to restore the light station. Exterior restoration was completed in 1998. Two grants of $300,000 each supported restoration of the interior of the building as a maritime museum. In 2014 there was increasing concern that rising sea level was threatening the lighthouse, now only 120 ft (36 m) from the bay. In August the Corps of Engineers announced it would spend $100,000 of Hurricane Sandy funding to study how best to save the lighthouse. In November, the state allocated $500,000 of the hurricane funding to this project. In 2015 the Corps of Engineers announced it would spend $1.9 million for beachfill and a protective berm to curb erosion. In 2016-17 an $852,000 restoration project replaced the roof, repointed the bricks and carried out interior renovations. The lighthouse was reopened and rededicated in September 2017. With erosion a continuing problem in November 2019, the state spent $460,000 to place sand filled "geotubes" as temporary protection. The lighthouse was closed for much of 2020-21 after the preservation group's lease expired; it reopened under a temporary lease in August 2021. Located near the end of East Point Road southwest of Heislerville.

Site open, lighthouse open weekends July through September and on the first and third weekends of each month the rest of the year.

Description: East Point Lighthouse is an active lighthouse built in 1849, situated on the picturesque Southern Bayshore in Cumberland County, New Jersey. This fully restored and furnished lighthouse with its beacon on each night serves as both an active navigational aid serviced by the United States Coast Guard as well as a year round museum, thanks to the work of the Maurice River Historical Society that manages the historic site. Through the work of the non-profit historical society that oversaw the full restoration, fully furnished, maintains and manages the lighthouse, it’s open to the public to climb/tour and for special events year round. Both the Lighthouse and grounds surrounding the lighthouse are on the National Historic Registry. East Point is the second oldest lighthouse in New Jersey and the only remaining New Jersey land based lighthouse on the Delaware Bay. The two story Cape Cod style lighthouse with its distinctive red roof by day and blinking red beacon by night, marks the mouth of the Maurice River on the Delaware Bay. East Point is known for its rich maritime history, spectacular views, wide variety of wildlife and beautiful sunsets, making it a popular destination for tourists, artists, photographers, wildlife and history enthusiasts alike.

Also onsite there’s a Lighthouse Gift Shoppe, parking, picnic area, a beach (except during high tides) and ADA ramp to the first floor of the Lighthouse. The grounds and beach are always open to the public. To tour the Lighthouse Museum and visit the Lighthouse Gift Shoppe, please check the schedule for available times and dates.

Owner: New Jersey State Park Service.

Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Maurice River Historical Society (East Point Lighthouse)

Completely restored

Open

Open

39.195833° -75.027167°

1. http://eastpointlight.com/
2. https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/nj.htm

ARLHS USA-262; Admiralty J1273.6; USCG 2-1695.