One iconic resort, seven decades, and the untold story of what time, technology, and politics erased.
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Note: The library is closed on Sundays during the summer months of July and August.
Long Branch Free Public Library
Hours:
Monday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Presented by the Historic Association of Fair Haven, Fair Haven 250 Committee and Rumson 250 Committee.
Join Us For A Historic Evening: “TALES OF THE PENINSULA 1880 - 1930” Featuring Guest Speaker, Chris Brenner
Among the topics to be discussed:
Bethel and Fisk Chapels
Riding Rivers and Rails
The McCarter Estate
Please plan to join us for an enjoyable evening.
Located at Carton Brewery, 6 E Washington Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 732-654-BEER
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tues: Closed
Wed: 4PM-9PM
Thurs: 4PM-9PM
Fri: 4PM-9PM
Sat: 12PM-9PM
Sun: 12PM-7PM
On Saturday, 15 November 2025, Chris Brenner will be presenting his award-winning video, “Destinations Past: Highland Beach Resort” at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center starting at 11:00. There will be Q&A after the video presentation.
Destinations Past: Highland Beach Resort, is a 42-minute documentary released in 2016 that chronicles the history of Highland Beach, a once-popular beach resort on the Sandy Hook peninsula that opened in 1888 and operated for 75 years under the Sandlass family. The film, which uses century-old postcards, home movies, photographs, and period music, was awarded Best Home Grown Documentary Short at the 2017 Garden State Film Festival. It gained widespread attention after going viral on YouTube following a private release to friends.
Click here for the video
Monmouth Beach Cultural Center is located at 128 Ocean Avenue, Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750.
Phone: 732-229-4527
Public Presentation: Sandy Hook and America Cup Races by Frank Smith
- 6:30 pm: Coffee and cookies
- 7:00 pm: Presentation
-8:00 pm: Close
Registration: In Person at Bahrs - Free
Frank Smith will discuss the series of America Cup races that took place off Sandy Hook, with a local spin on the activities around the races.
Located at the Monmouth Beach Historical Committee Cultural Center
September 26 - November 21, 2025.
Hours:
Open Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Located at the Fort Hancock Museum on Sandy Hook, NJ
July 1 through September 1, 2025
Hours:
Weekends: 1:00 to 5:00
Weekdays: Consult the National Park Service Website for hours.
Located at the Life-Saving Station at Spermaceti Cove on Sandy Hook, NJ
Hours: Thursday, Friday, and Mondays - 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday - 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Local historian, Chris Brenner, charts the rise and fall of Sandy Hook’s historic resort paradise. Join us for a film screening (45 minutes), followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. The event is free but registration is required to attend. Please click the button below to register for this exciting presentation!
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
Join Preservation NJ via ZOOM on June 20th at 7PM as we sit down with Jersey Coast Heritage Museum on the Sandlass House. The Sandlass House is the last remnant of the Highland Beach Resort at Sandy Hook, N.J. and was listed on the 10 Most in 2022.
Click the ‘RSVP” link below to register for this event.
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
The Jersey Coast Heritage Museum (JCHM) is a community group dedicated to preserving history. In particular, the Highland Beach Resort is a unique part of Sandy Hook history existing from 1888 through 1962. To raise awareness of this historic location, a photographic display has been created. Photographic displays at local venues draw passers-by with a “DID YOU KNOW?” concept. This exhibit ties the development and growth of Northern Jersey Shore tourism and the Highland Beach Resort together with the significant role of rail transportation and excursion trains, steamboats and autos to Sandy Hook. These highly recognizable photographs of the Highlands Bridge route and entrance to the park at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ are paired with existing historic photographs from the same perspective.
The 10 Most Endangered Historic Places program spotlights irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural, and archeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost. The act of listing these resources acknowledges their importance to the heritage of New Jersey and draws attention to the predicaments that endanger their survival and the survival of historic resources statewide. The list, generated from nominations by the public, aims to attract new perspectives and ideas to sites in desperate need of creative solutions. Dina Long, former Sea Bright mayor, accepted the award noting in her remarks the importance of preserving this important structure on the Sandy Hook peninsula.
Highland Beach history clips from the film and images from the book walk you through the initial development of the resort, what made it unique and some of the fun visuals and tidbits of everyday life at the resort.
Arcadia Publishing & The History Press
Arcadia Publishing & The History Press
REGISTRATION LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtduqprDotEtXvc0lhs8I0mezXd8tOk-Wb
Built by William Sandlass during the Golden Age of the Jersey Shore, the Highland Beach excursion resort was an iconic landmark for more than seven decades. Author Susan Sandlass Gardiner charts the rise and fall of Sandy Hook historic resort paradise.
The dawn of leisure at the Jersey shore is featured in Gallery 1. (While indoor space at the museum is currently closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the outdoor space is still accessible.) An upcoming exhibit will include history panels in the north and south towers of Twin Lights featuring Highland Beach excursion resort. The bathing beach and hotel pioneer William Sandlass is also highlighted. Join us and explore one of New Jersey's treasures!
Lost Amusement Parks of the New Jersey Shore by Rick Geffken and George Severini.
Come out and join Rick Geffken and discover this new publication.
See a preview of information and artifacts at the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society at the Strauss Mansion Museum. Exhibition open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00-4:00pm.
Awarded top prize in the documentary category. Congratulations, Chris, on this fantastic piece that documents the Sandlass Beach Club.
The Navesink Maritime Heritage Museum hosts Chris Brenner at the public presentation.
Packed house! Many past members shared memories.
