Fort Hancock Museum Reopens At Sandy Hook This Sunday, Sept. 30

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — This Sunday, Sept. 30, will be the grand re-opening of both the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the Fort Hancock Post Museum.

The iconic Sandy Hook lighthouse was closed for approximately 10 months starting in 2017 for restoration. It quietly reopened to the public again this past June, but Sunday will mark the lighthouse's official grand reopening. The museum at Fort Hancock has been closed since 2010. The building housing the museum then suffered damage in super storm Sandy and is now re-opening.

The Sandy Hook lighthouse is 254 years old and features a 95-step spiral staircase; once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with incredible views of Sandy Hook Bay, the entire Sandy Hook peninsula and the New York City skyline.

The Fort Hancock museum exhibits the fascinating military history of Sandy Hook, from the Revolutionary War through the Cold War. It is definitely worth checking out.

The renovations at the Sandy Hook lighthouse included replacing the front door, and the lantern deck and walls. New windows were installed and window frames were treated, which should prevent staining of the lighthouse.

“The Sandy Hook Lighthouse has been a landmark for more than 250 years. We are thrilled that visitors can once again climb to the top,” said Jen Nersesian, the superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area. “We are also excited to finally re-open the Fort Hancock Post Museum, which features a new exhibit of the history of the military at this site.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse will be open for tours, as well as the Sandy Hook Museum and the History House.

Photo of the Sandy Hook lighthouse supplied by the National Park Service.