Gateway National Recreation Area's three park units all trace the rich history of the nation and harbor. Historic forts, former airports, recreation areas and America's oldest operating lighthouse tell fascinating stories of defense, aviation firsts, navigational safety and healthy living. 

View podcasts our historic sites.

Learn how Fort Hancock's Battery Potter worked.

Explore Fort Hancock's Battery Gunnison

Sandy Hook Light and Keepers Quarters

In June, 2006, the historic Sandy Hook Lighthouse Keepers Quarters opened as a visitor contact station for tours of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, America's oldest light. The $650,000 rehabilitation of the Keepers Quarters was funded by the park's Friends Group, the Sandy Hook Foundation. The main floor has exhibits on New Jersey lighthouses, while the upper floors are offices and lodging for the Foundation and the NJ Lighthouse Society, the volunteer group that conducts Lighthouse tours for the NPS. Click here for Hours of Operation.

Hangar B at Floyd Bennett Field

Hangar B is the home to Floyd Bennett Field's Historic Aircraft Restoration Project (HARP.) Visitors to the hangar can see dedicated Volunteers In Parks working on the park's collection of historic aircraft. Many of the volunteers come to the project with decades of experience working on planes, either in the military, or in the civil sector, or both. The goal is to return these aircraft to nearly original condition. HARP volunteers are even building a full scale model of Wiley Post's Lockheed Vega, "The Winnie Mae" from scratch! The volunteers and park rangers are available to lead tours of the hangar and planes, and are more than happy to answer any questions. 

What makes a visit to Hangar B unique is that visitors can see, hear, and feel what it is like to be in a working airplane hangar. It is easy to imagine that is 1945, or 1965 during a visit to Hangar B. 

Hangar B is open to the public Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For group tours, call (718) 338 - 3799.