Twin Lights, constructed in 1862, is owned and operated by the NJ State Park Service with support from the Twin Lights Historical Society. It is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006 for its architecture and its role in the development of lighthouse technologies.
The first time I crossed the Route 36 Highlands bridge, coming from Sea Bright, my gaze met the imposing fortress-like facade of the Twin Lights towering atop the hill. Excitement overtook me, as the reality of such a unique job opportunity set in. The first day at work was both a dream come true and a wake up call. The site historian, Nicholas Wood, had me cutting sheet rock, securing it in the wall with joint compound, and sanding it the next morning. At the same time, we were sawing through pieces of wood to get the perfect cut for the new front desk. Presently, we’re working on some tables to put new exhibits on. Not my initial expectations for the job.
The process of presenting history to the public is more than a purely speculative or academic pursuit. What I’m learning from this experience at the Twin Lights is something I could never learn in a classroom environment, it’s the ultimate field trip. For example, I can read all I want about best practices for reception and preservation of artifacts; however, until I had the chance to accession various donations or dust off the hulking Francis Metallic Lifecar with a special brush and vacuum, I can’t say I ever had the chance to use that knowledge. By that same token, everything I’ve learned in the classroom back at Monmouth University about how to do history well, and especially public history, is coming to fruition.
All of these artifacts are spread out across the grounds in both indoor and outdoor museum areas, and several markers dot the grounds of the site, too, to designate a noteworthy event or something lost to time, like the original North Tower of the lighthouse. With so much to learn, the best way to experience the site’s history is a guided tour. Giving tours has given me the chance to craft a narrative that incorporates the material artifacts, noteworthy events, and local history into something presentable to the public; without my background in history from MU, I wouldn’t be able to do this.
My creativity in how to present the history here is put to the test when I factor in who I have to present it to: Girl Scouts, people with different learning needs, the young and the old alike. Historians need to be good communicators of their material; if they can’t connect with their audience or read the room, even the most interesting histories can fall flat. One of my favorite connections I’ve made to date is with a Frenchman who came to visit. I asked him if he knew the history behind the massive apparatus sitting in the powerhouse: The Fresnel Lens. Apparently, his high school back in France is named after the inventor of the lens: Augustus Fresnel!
This opportunity to practice history at a well-preserved site, interact with the public, and receive mentorship from Nicholas Wood about the ins and outs of museum work is an answered prayer and has been a fantastic experience!
Plan your visit at: https://www.twinlightslighthouse.org/
Patrick Meehan is an undergraduate student at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ.
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