Stretching off the northern tip of the New Jersey Shore, the 1,650-acre peninsula preserves six miles of ocean beaches enjoyed by more than two million visitors a year. Beyond its well-known beaches, sand dunes and salt marshes extend to Sandy Hook Bay. These coastal environments support an array of wildlife, including more than 300 species of migratory and native birds. Offshore, dozens of fish species and other aquatic life thrive in these waters. Sandy Hook also has a long history: its lighthouse, the oldest in the nation, has guided shipping since 1764, and forts here protected New York Harbor for two centuries, including Fort Hancock and the Endicott fortification, along with the remains of the Sandy Hook Proving Ground.
