Lower Township near Cape May in Cape May County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Maritime Sentinels
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| | Maritime History | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2017
1. Maritime Sentinels Marker
Primary seacoast lights were located to warn mariners of their proximity to land, areas of danger, and to help set the course. Sandy Hook and Navesink Twin Lights marked the entrance to New York Harbor. Cape May and Cape Henlopen Lighthouses marked the entrance to the Delaware Bay.
By 1852 lighthouses and lightships often looked so much alike that it was difficult to distinguish one from another. Today, each lighthouse has a "characteristic" or coded sequence of light flashes making it possible for the mariner to identify the light and its location along the coast. For example, Barnegat Light's "characteristic" was a flash every ten seconds at each point of the compass.
Each lighthouse is also designed or painted in a distinctive pattern, called a "daymark," which makes it easy to identify by day. Absecon Lighthouse is painted yellow-black-yellow so mariners will not mistake it for any other lighthouse. Some lighthouses, especially those located on dangerous shoals, are equipped with fog signals to warn mariners of potential danger.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior; State of
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 38° 55.988′ N, 74° 57.61′ W. Marker is near Cape May, New Jersey, in Cape May County. It is in Lower Township. It can be reached from the intersection of Light House Avenue (County Road 629) and Lehigh Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 215 Light House Ave, Cape May NJ 08204, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on New Jersey’s Jersey Shore. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this
Other markers no longer nearby. All Shapes, Sizes and Materials (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Welcome to the Cape May Lighthouse (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on September 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
