Guglielmo Marconi conducted the first practical wireless telegraphy demonstration in the United States here in 1899.
The lighthouse was the first in the nation to use a first-order bivalve Fresnel lens.
In 1945, the site served as a radar station for the U.S. military to detect low-flying aircraft.
The structure was built with a distinctive 'fortress' appearance to protect the sophisticated and expensive optical equipment of the era.
It is the only lighthouse in the United States to have towers connected by a central building designed in a symmetrical fortress style.
Twin Lights State Historic Site is located on the Highlands headland, the highest point on the Atlantic coast south of Maine, offering 200-foot elevated views of the Atlantic Ocean and the New York City skyline. The site features a fortress-like stone lighthouse constructed in 1862, designed with twin towers that allowed mariners to distinguish it from other coastal lights. It served as the primary navigational aid for the Port of New York during the peak of maritime traffic. The facility houses a museum dedicated to lighthouse history, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, and telecommunications milestones. The site remains a notable example of Romanesque Revival architecture in public coastal structures. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The grassy vantage point near the base of the north tower looking east toward the ocean.
Bring binoculars to scan the horizon for ships and distant views of the Manhattan skyline.
Visit the small museum shop located within the building for local historical literature.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the grounds are hilly and require navigation over uneven terrain.
Do not attempt to climb the towers if you are uncomfortable with steep, narrow spiral staircases.
Closed on major holidays and typically closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
