Stretching off the northern tip of the New Jersey Shore, the 1,650 acre Sandy Hook peninsula preserves six miles of ocean beaches enjoyed by more than two million visitors a year. Beyond its 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, while offshore waters sustain dozens of fish species and other aquatic life. 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. Fort Hancock reflects Sandy Hook’s role in navigation and the defense of the nation, alongside historic resources that range from the 1764 Sandy Hook Lighthouse to 1890s Endicott fortifications and the remains of the Sandy Hook Proving Ground.