Cape May Lighthouse

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Cape May Light

(Cape May, New Jersey)

The current lighthouse at Cape May, New Jersey is the third lighthouse to be built on Cape May Point. The first lighthouse was built in 1823 and was a tower 68 feet tall. The second was built in 1847. It was 78 feet high. The locations of these first two lights are now under water due to the erosion of the shoreline.

Completed in 1859, the current lighthouse stands 157.5 feet tall from the ground line to the ventilator ball on top. The lighthouse utilizes a two wall construction. The inner structure is cylindrical with walls that are 8.5 inches thick from the base to the top. This wall supports the 199 step spiral staircase. Outside of this is the conical shaped outer structure The walls at the base are 3 feet 10 inches and narrow to 1 foot 6 inches at the top. The lighthouse is designed to withstand forces well beyond those of hurricanes.

When the lighthouse was first lit on October 31, 1859 it was equipped with a first order Fresnel lens. This lens was used until 1946 when the current rotating optical lens was installed. The first order Fresnel lens was placed in the Cape May County Museum where it can still be seen. Various light sources were also used over the years. The initial light was replaced by Funck multiple wick first order hydraulic float lamp in 1878. This was replaced by an incandescent oil vapor lamp in 1910 and used until electrified in 1938. Today the light is still an active aid to navigation. It flashes every 15 seconds and can be seen on a clear night at up to 24 miles.

The lighthouse was staffed by one head keeper and two assistant keepers. Two houses were built next to the tower for the keepers and their families. Only one remains today. The other structure is the oil house. This was built in 1893 and today serves as a gift shop.

During the 1980’s the U.S. Coast Guard began to lease historic lighthouses to preservation groups. In December of 1986 the Cape May lighthouse was leased to a non-profit organization known as the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC). In 1992 ownership of the lighthouse was transferred from the USCG to the State of New Jersey so that state historic preservation funding could be used towards the restoration effort. A great deal of work has been accomplished already including restoration to the lighthouse windows, doors, interior walls and staircase, and lantern room roof and windows. The lighthouse tower has been repainted to its original color scheme of light beige with a red lantern room. At the entrance to the grounds is the old oil building that has been restored and now houses the gift shop.

The lighthouse is open to the public. The tower is open for climbing daily from April through November and is open on weekends most of the rest of the year.

DIRECTIONS: Cape May is at the southern tip of New Jersey at the end of the Garden State Parkway. Take Route 109 south and look closely for signs to the lighthouse which is at Cape May Point State Park.

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