10 Amazing Things About Long Beach Island History You Didn’t Know

Let’s face it, Long Beach Island is one of the coolest communities in New Jersey. From the historic sites to the amazing beaches to your favorite restaurant – take your pick, there are a lot of them – and the amazing boating and fishing, this area has a lot to offer. Everyone who lives in Barnegat, Manahawkin, Forked River and the surrounding area knows that.

But how much do you know about LBI history? Do you know about its old railroad lines? The history of the Causeway? How long your favorite restaurant has been there?

That’s what this article is for! To fill you in on some of the cool stuff you didn’t know about LBI’s past. Enjoy!

1. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Long Beach Island was served by the Tuckerton Railroad. Created thanks to growing tourism, the line ran from Whiting to Tuckerton and was completed in 1886.
2. A portion of the Tuckerton Railroad was reorganized as the Barnegat Railroad in 1894. This line was leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).
3. Passenger services to Beach Haven from Camden was established in 1900.
4. By 1913, three round trips per day between Whiting and Beach Haven were being operated. That’s a lot of people!
5. The final shipment by rail off Long Beach Island took place in 1941, consisting of nothing more than three cars of scrap.
6. Beach Haven, a community on Long Beach Island, was home to the shark attacks that inspired the novel and film Jaws. The famed Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 included a fatal attack in Beach Haven. All told, four people were killed and one injured between July 1 and July 12
7. Docked in the nearby Viking Village part of Barnegat Light, the scallop boat Lindsay L was used in the movie The Perfect Storm.
8. Beach Haven boasts the famed Fantasy Island Amusement Park, which is home to a carousel featuring classic horse sculpts dating to the early 1900s. The carousel itself was commissioned in 1974 with the intention of recreating the look of classic Victorian era carousels. In fact, Fantasy Island Amusement Park is the only location on Long Beach Island with standard carnival rides and games. There are no other similar amusements there.
9. The Causeway leading onto the island isn’t actually a causeway at all, it’s a bridge – a causeway is a raised embankment that crosses wetlands or water – and it’s official name is the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge.
10. The Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge is named after an African-American engineer and designer known for creating uniquely lit bridges.

What tidbits do you know about the history of Long Beach Island, as well as Manahawkin, Forked River, and other towns near Barnegat? Let us know in the comments!