The Cape May Lighthouse in New Jersey was the first
lighthouse I ever visited. I had seen lighthouses in magazines and other media, but
never saw one in person. A few years have passed now since visiting this lighthouse,
but the visit remains an unforgettable experience. I felt extremely small in stature as
I stood at the base of this towering lighthouse.
Built in 1859, this lighthouse tower stands 157-feet
6-inches tall and consists of two separate walls. The outside wall is cone-shaped and is 13-feet 10-inches thick at the
bottom, and tapers to 1-foot 6-inches thick at the top. The inside wall is a cylinder with 8.5 inch
thick walls which support the spiral staircase. There are 218 steps from ground
to the top. Of those steps, 199 are in the tower's cast iron spiral staircase. The
walls are designed to withstand winds several times above hurricane force.
The need for keepers stationed at the tower was eliminated when
the light was electrified in 1938. Of the two keepers dwellings evacuated, only
one remains. Not pictured.
Because of WWII, in 1941 the lighthouse was darkened until 1945.
The Atlantic coast was on blackout due to the presence of enemy submarines.
The lantern room originally housed a first order Fresnel
lens. It was removed after World War II, loaned to Cape May County Museum in
1946, and is on display. A beacon type light which flashes every 15 seconds and visible for 24-miles out to sea replaced that lens.
The Coast Guard leased the tower to the state of New Jersey in 1986 and later transferred
ownership of the light station in 1992. The light continues as an active aid to
navigation.
This is the third known lighthouse built at Cape May Point. The first lighthouse was built in 1823 and the second in 1847. The exact locations of those first two lighthouses are uncertain, as they are now under water due to erosion.
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