Scenic USA - New Jersey

Hereford Inlet Light Station

Scenic USA on Pinterest

Pinterest


Home Archives Previous Next

Hereford Inlet Light Station - North Wildwood, New Jersey
Photos by Ben Prepelka
Ben Prepelka Photography

   A natural break in the barrier islands of New Jersey's southern shore, which leads into the Intracoastal Waterway, Hereford Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Museum - North Wildwood, New Jersey Inlet was the sight of many shipwrecks and groundings. Its treacherous currents and shifting sandbars lead to the construction of successive life-saving stations and the Hereford Inlet Light Station in 1873.
   Following a wood frame residential style, the Lighthouse Board’s lead draftsman, Paul J. Peltz, added a Swiss Carpenter Gothic flair to the design. Peltz's artistic touches were used in four West Coast lighthouses (Point Fermin and East Brother lighthouses are still in existence), while Hereford Light is the only east coast light station of his design.
   A survivor of eastern storms for decades, the light station was moved inland to solid ground in 1913. Eventually the need for a lighthouse was minimized and the building was turned over to the New Jersey State Marine Police for a short time. After an 18 year period of neglect, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Gardens - North Wildwood, New Jersey interest in the lighthouse was spearheaded by Mayor Anthony Catanoso and his wife Phyllis. Lighthouse restoration, largely a community effort, lead to the lighthouse being returned as a fully functional navigation aid. Operated and maintained by the Hereford Lighthouse Commission, the lighthouse doubles as a museum. Garden landscaping, following early England's cottage style, surrounds the lighthouse. Garden benches, birdbaths, urns and arbors create cozy set of features for this North Wildwood historic landmark.

     Lighthouse Hours
     Area Map
    


More Area Attractions


 

    Copyright © 2024 Benjamin Prepelka
    All Rights Reserved