The vessel served from 1904 to 1924 as the lightship for Five Fathom Bank, which is located 15 miles (24 km) from the Cape May Lighthouse.

Barnegat was then donated to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Saint Michaels, Maryland.

Attempts at maintenance and repair work were unsuccessful and the ship is considered to be in threat of loss due to deterioration.

In June 2020, the restored bell was unveiled and put on permanent display at the Seventh Street bay side pavilion park in Barnegat Light.

This article about a property in New Jersey on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.