The Twin Light Historical Society
The Twin Light Historical Society is a non-profit friends group dedicated to preserving New Jersey’s foremost lighthouse and museum. In 2006, shortly after the society’s 50th anniversary, the Twin Lights was declared a National Historic Landmark. This was fantastic news, but now our job is bigger—and more important—than ever.
As the Friends of Twin Lights, we have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the future of a unique national treasure, the most visually breathtaking historical destination on the Jersey Shore.
What a great time this is for new members to join!
When you get connected through an annual membership, you’ll become a Friend of Twin Lights and a member of the Twin Light Historical Society. You will receive discounts at the Museum Shop and special deals at local shops and restaurants. And you’ll automatically be kept up to date on meetings, new acquisitions and special events through the Lighthouse Log e-newsletter.
One hundred percent of your dues and donations go toward preserving and enhancing this National Historic Landmark!
Site Staff
Margaret Carlsen, Curator
Kathleen Dwyer, Customer Service Representative
Twin Light Historic Society Executive Board
Mary Jo Kenny, President
Cathy Smith, Vice President
Mark Stewart, Secretary
Peter Burton, Treasurer
Twin Light Historic Society Trustees
Michael Calafati, AIA
John G. Colannino, Esq,
CDR Timothy R. Dring,
USNR (Retired)
Millicent Johnsen
Michael Kelly
Dr. S. Laufer
Clark Mulheren
Tom Mullins
Suzy Post
Patrick Quinn
Claire Reilly-Taylor
Stevie Thompson
Mary Lou Strong
Paul Taylor
Founded
The Twin Light(s) Historic Society was formed in 1955 by a group of local citizens. In 1968, the Board of Trustees applied for status as a 501c3. The Society has operated as an incorporated business entity in the State of New Jersey since 1968.
Vision
The vision of the Twin Lights Historical Society is to create one of the foremost centers in the United States for interpretation and education related to lighthouse, maritime, navigational and communications history.
Mission
The purpose for which the Society formed is to help preserve, restore and interpret the Twin Lights of the Navesink Highlands as an historic monument. Their goal is to preserve the lighthouse grounds as a public park, establish and maintain a museum devoted to the maritime history of the Navesink Light Attendants Station in the Lighthouse building and in supplementary buildings on the lighthouse grounds and to provide access to the public through a wide variety of programming options.
Objectives
• Support the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry in the care, maintenance and operation of the buildings and grounds.
• Create the best museum by preserving, protecting and enhancing the collection, providing outstanding educational programs, and connecting with the community.
• Maintain the healthy financial condition of the Society by proper stewardship of its assets and increasing the resources available for accomplishing this mission.
How We Work
The Friends of Twin Lights are supported by a staff of 19 Trustees and 16 visitor services/education volunteers. Additionally, volunteers are recruited from the local community to assist with special programs and projects.
Last year volunteers contributed over 9,000 hours assisting with research and interpretation, maintenance, special programs, education programs, clerical, event planning, site development, collections management, web site development, grounds maintenance, in the museum shop and on the DVD research and planning team.
Collections
Twin Light Historical Society Collection: The Society has a License Agreement with the State dating back to 1995. This license is an outgrowth of the continuing cooperative spirit that has existed between the Society and the State since ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the State in the early 1960’s. The Society owns the majority of the decorative arts and archival collection and works cooperatively with the State assigned historian who curates the collection.
Howard Hayden Collection: Private collection assembled by Society curator Howard Hayden. The collection is devoted to the history of Life Saving along the New Jersey coast.
