With a history dating back to 1874, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse has guided sailors to safety for generations.
In the 17th Century, the Hereford inlet was a place for whalers to bring in their catches. Over the years, the inlet became more congested as coastal shipping was on the rise. With more boats in the area, the number of shipwrecks increased. To prevent further shipwrecks, Congress purchased the land surrounding the inlet and secured funding to begin construction of a lighthouse on November 8, 1873. The Lighthouse was designed by Paul J. Pelz, who is best-known for being the designer of the Library of Congress in D.C. Around a year and half later, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was completed on April 16, 1874.
The tower of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was first illuminated on May 11, 1874. The unique-residential architecture of the Lighthouse gives visitors a glimpse into life of a lighthouse keeper. As visitors walk through the lighthouse, they can see various rooms that the lighthouse keeper and his family would spend time. Although, the life of lighthouse keeper appears to be quiet and peaceful way of life, it was not without challenges and hardship. The first lighthouse keeper, John Marche, is a prime example of dangers that ocean brings. Three months into his job, Marche succumbed to the ocean when his boat capsized, resulting in his drowning.
The Lighthouse fought valiantly against storms, wind, and tides for many years. Ultimately, in August of 1913, a storm damaged the foundation of original lighthouse. The lighthouse was then moved westward 150 feet, allowing for a new foundation where the Lighthouse still stands today. The Lighthouse overcame some other hardships over the years as well, including a period of disrepair. Today, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is an operational lighthouse. It is maintained by the United States Coast Guard.
Surrounding the Lighthouse, visitors can walk through Victorian-Style gardens. The gardens host a beautiful array of colors and plants. The gardens are home to over 200 various plant types. Depending on the time of year, butterflies and birds can be spotted in the gardens enjoying life. The gardens were even awarded the Horticultural Society Suburban Greening Award.
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is great for visitors in the area of North Wildwood. While the history is unique and the garden lovely, the visit is quick. To walk through the lighthouse and gardens only takes about 20 minutes. Although, the gardens lead out to the seawall by the beach, so you can extend your stay by spending the day at the beach. The best part is the Lighthouse and Gardens are free to visitors, so if you are in the area, it’s worth stopping by.
Resources
“Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.” New Jersey. State of New Jersey, 1996-2025 Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://visitnj.org/nj-attractions/hereford-inlet-lighthouse
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood, New Jersey (Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, 2025).
“Hereford Lighthouse Historic Site Overview.” Official Site of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey, 1996-2024 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/herefordlighthouse.html
“History.” Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. City of North Wildwood, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://herefordinletlighthouse.com/history/
New Jersey Lighthouse Guide: Victorian Beacons of Artistry and History (New Jersey: visitnj.org, 2025).
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