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Sandy Hook, NJ is a five mile long barrier beach peninsula at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore. The peninsula has been occupied by forts guarding New York Harbor since the 1800's. It was used as the first proving grounds for artillery in the late 19th century until shortly before WWI, at which point weapons could outrange the limited space on the Hook and a new proving grounds was opened in Aberdeen, MD.
In the 1950's, Sandy Hook was home to a Nike Missile defense system. The system was meant to guard part of the east coast from cold war bombers. The missiles actually employed nuclear warheads to take down target planes. The system became obsolete with the advent of the ICBM.
Sandy Hook is now a national park, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. The peninsula includes 7 miles of beaches, hiking trails, salt marshes, a maritime holly forest, and United States' oldest surviving lighthouse - built in 1796.