Philatelic Photograph: Sandy Hook Light - Sandy Hook, NJ

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Sandy Hook Light

Sandy Hook, NJ

Topic: Philatelic Photograph

GPS: N40° 27.704; W074° 00.137

Quick Description: 

Sandy Hook Light is located near the tip of peninsula in northeast New Jersey that juts northward into lower New York Harbor.

Long Description:

Sandy Hook light is the oldest continuously operate lighthouse in the United States. It is located at the Fort Hancock area of Sandy Hook and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A plaque attached to the lighthouse explains its history, purpose, specifications and significance. The plaque is inscribed:

SANDY HOOK LIGHT {US COAST GUARD INSIGNIA}

THIS LIGHT WAS COMPLETED IN 1764 AND IS
THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING LIGHTHOUSE IN
THE UNITED STATES. NEW YORK MERCHANTS
PETITIONED THEIR ASSEMBLY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE
LIGHT BY LOTTERIES AND TONNAGE TAXES ON
SHIPS ENTERING NEW YORK. IN 1789 THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FORMED THE U.S. LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE, LATER
INCORPORATED INTO THE U.S. COAST GUARD, TO OPERATE
THIS LIGHT AND ALL OTHER AIDS TO NAVIGATION IN U.S. WATERS.
SANDY HOOK LIGHT IS 29 FEET IN DIAMETER AT THE BASE AND 15
FEET IN DIAMETER AT THE TOP. THE 45,000 CANDLEPOWER LIGHT IS
66 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND CAN BE SEEN FOR 19 MILES.
SANDY HOOK LIGHT IS A REMINDER OF OUR RICH MARITIME
HISTORY AND IS STILL AN IMPORTANT AID TO NAVIGATION
AT THE ENTRANCE TO NEW YORK HARBOR

DEDICATED
JUNE 11, 1976 U.S. COAST GUARD

The stamp was issued by the United States in 1990 as part of a five stamp booklet pane depicting coastal lighthouses.