History of Sandy Hook in Timeline

Updated: May 27, 2024

Sandy Hook is a 6-mile-long barrier spit in Middletown Township, New Jersey. Situated at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore, it forms a protective barrier for Lower New York Bay against the Atlantic Ocean. Its width varies from 0.1 to 1 mile.

1913: First Successful Ederle-Burke Swim

New York lifeguard Alfred Brown completed the first successful Ederle-Burke Swim in 1913, reaching the shore of Sandy Hook after 13 hours and 38 minutes.

1919: Sandy Hook Proving Ground Moved

In 1919, the Sandy Hook Proving Ground was relocated to Aberdeen, Maryland, after being in use since the Civil War.

1925: Gertrude Ederle's Ederle-Burke Swim

In 1925, Gertrude Ederle, before her famous English Channel swim, finished the Ederle-Burke Swim in a remarkable 7 hours and 11 minutes.

1976: Battery Gunnison Restoration and Armament

In 1976, Battery Gunnison at Fort Hancock received two six-inch M1900 guns as part of its restoration by volunteers.

1981: Start of Weather Record Keeping

The year 1981 signifies the beginning of consistent weather record keeping for Sandy Hook, providing valuable data for understanding climate trends.

January 21, 1985: Record Low Temperature

The coldest recorded temperature at Sandy Hook was -3.0°F (-19.4°C) on January 21, 1985, since records began in 1981.

August 9, 2001: Record High Temperature

On August 9, 2001, Sandy Hook experienced its highest recorded air temperature of 99.7°F (37.6°C) since record-keeping began in 1981.

August 27, 2011: Highest Daily Rainfall

Sandy Hook experienced its wettest calendar day on August 27, 2011, with a recorded rainfall of 5.61 inches (142 mm) since 1981.

July 19, 2019: Record High Dew Point

July 19, 2019, marked the highest average daily mean dew point recorded at Sandy Hook, reaching 78.0°F (25.6°C) since 1981.

Mentioned in this timeline

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