The Sandy Hook Foundation is the official friends group to the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area.  The Sandy Hook Foundation supports programs and projects of natural, historic, and cultural importance.

Sandy Hook is a picturesque 2,044-acre barrier beach peninsula located at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore that offers a variety of environmental and recreational resources. Featuring miles of ocean and bayside beaches, salt and freshwater marshes, hiking and biking trails, 264 acres of maritime forest, and some of the best sunsets anywhere in New Jersey, Sandy Hook is as rich in ecological diversity as it is opportunities to relax and explore.

Sandy Hook is equally as rich in maritime and military history. Built in 1764, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States.

The U.S. Army’s connection to Sandy Hook is also historically significant. For more than three-quarters of a century, from the Spanish-American War through the Cold War, Fort Hancock’s defenses acted as significant deterrents to potential attacks on the New York Metropolitan Area. Fort Hancock and its dedicated soldiers saved millions of lives without ever firing a shot in combat. Today, the entire Sandy Hook peninsula is recognized as the Fort Hancock & Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark.

Last Updated: 07/19/23