Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook -- part of Gateway National Recreation Area -- provided coastal defense for New York Harbor from 1895 until 1974. During the height of the Cold War, the fort housed Nike missiles prepared to intercept jet warplanes threatening New York City. Just a quick trip from Manhattan by ferry, the historic district of Sandy Hook is open for the public to explore. Today, over 100 buildings and fortifications remain, and the Fort Hancock Museum tells the story of this long-term military installation. Take a break from a day at the beach and hop on one of the Sandy Hook trolley buses to Fort Hancock for a trip back in time to the heyday of the harbor's coastal defense.

Sandy Hook includes great beaches, military history, fishing, biking, birding and seasonal events. Beach Recreation - Lifeguards are on duty from 10 AM to 6 PM from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at five ocean beaches.

Take a stroll around Fort Hancock, a National Historic Landmark. Visit the Fort Hancock Museum, Battery Potter, Battery Gunnison and History House, a restored home on Officer' Row. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Keepers' Quarters and Barn tell the story of the lonely life of a sentinel of the sea. Most sites are open weekends with extended summer hours.

>City(s) = Middletown, Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook; State(s) = NJ; Country = USA.
>Title = Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock, Middletown, NJ, US - Video.
>Keywords = Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Fort Hancock, Middletown, NJ, Gateway National Recreation Area, coastal defense, New York Harbor, Nike, missiles, Manhattan, ferry, Museum, beach, trolley, buses, Historic, Landmark, ourtripvideos, our, trip, videos, crlapindfrn (215)
>Catg =