Robbins Reef: A Jersey Shore Lighthouse with a Charming 19th-Century Vibe

Robbins Reef, a charming lighthouse on the Jersey Shore, gets its name from Dutch settlers who called the small reef off Constable Hook, Bayonne, New Jersey after the seals lounging there during low tide. The current structure, an octagonal granite tower, replaced an earlier wooden one in 1839. The exact foundation year is still up for debate, with documents pointing towards either 1883 or two years prior. One thing's for sure, Robbins Reef was owned and operated by the U.S.

Guard until its decommissioning in the 2000s. What sets Robbins Reef Light apart is its resident lighthouse keeper, none other than Kate Walker. Widowed in 1886, she took the reins following the death of her husband Captain John Walker, and even rowed her children to school in Bayonne. Kate held the position until 1919, making history as the first woman in the United States to be a solo lighthouse keeper. In 2009, Robbins Reef was put up for sale under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, and the Noble Maritime Collection, a maritime museum on Staten Island, purchased ownership in 2011.

The collection has been restoring the lighthouse since then, with the interiors nearing completion. Full renovations are expected in the early 2020s, at which point the light station would offer tours and even serve as a bed and breakfast, offering an exciting adventure for visitors. Until then, the story of Robbins Reef Light continues to captivate.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons