If there is any one thing that stood out for me on a recent visit to the Twin Lights, it is there is always something new and exciting to learn at this museum high on the hill in Highlands.
Nick Wood, the state ranger and historian par excellence, and his team of three well trained volunteers, all give tours daily at the museum . It is well worth the $12 for an hour or so of sheer enjoyment, plenty of knowledge, and a new appreciation for lighthouse keepers, ship captains, the United States Life Saving Service and so much more.
The Museum does not charge anything for visiting and touring on your own, enjoying the magnificent view either from the front lawn or, with a small fee, from either or both of the towers. But the $12 tour also includes a trip up the towers along with an information and a fun-filled visit to the six galleries, two outbuildings, and of course a small gift shop that are all part of the Twin Lights.
Touring with Nick brings history alive. You can almost hear the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance as you rub your hand over the foundation that once held that very large flag before which the first recitation of the pledge was said. In the Lifesaving station building, you learn the difference between the lifesaving station, the lifesaving service, and the Coast Guard. In the outbuilding housing the Fresnel lens, you learn so much more about its brilliance and how it came to be at the Twin Lights. That’s only the start.
The museum, both inside and out, is well designed with plenty of signs, photographs and videos that help explain all of the exhibits. But hearing Nick explain the little extras not captured in the written word, and to learn from the questions and his response to others in the tour group makes the trip ever so much better.
Nick tailors each of his tours to the will and whims of the group, be it two persons or a dozen or more. If there’s a huge interest in shipwrecks, he can expound on that. Or if it’s a technical group and wants to know more about the Marconi wireless message, or even the America’s Cup race, he can go into greater detail. I wouldn’t ask about ghosts or pirates ,though. Nick is a historian and likes to ensure every fascinating fact he gives has a strong foundation in research and documentation.
The historian has excelled in training his team of three other volunteers who give tours as well, each eager to share facts they themselves have learned during intensive training for the part time position.
Tours are $12 for adults, $2 for children, and are offered seven days a week between the museum’s open hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. While there are usually tour guides available, it isn’t necessary to make a reservation; but if you want to ensure a specific day and time, I’d suggest calling 732-872-1814 and making a reservation.
If you are visiting and want to climb the towers and not opt for the tour, $5 enables you to climb one or both for those spectacular views, more history, and a chance to imagine how Fort Hancock looked when it was an active army base, how the merry-go-round turned at Sandlass’s Amusement park, and or how Highlands looked a century ago.
Any visit to the Twin Lights is a grand way to spend an afternoon regardless of weather. Even on rainy days, the galleries within the building are filled with so much information, so many fascinating exhibits, and so many stories about local people that make every Bayshore resident proud. The grounds are wonderful for picnics,
The museum and grounds are open seven days a week, the museum closes at 4 and the grounds at 4:30. Plan a visit of a hour or half a day, enjoy the outdoor seating and grounds, and learn about the important role lighthouses have played in the history of both New Jersey and the United States.
