Lower Township near Cape May in Cape May County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Welcome to the Cape May Lighthouse
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 17, 2022
1. Welcome to the Cape May Lighthouse Marker
For almost two centuries, a lighthouse beacon has stood here at the southern tip of New Jersey, guarding the entrance to the Delaware Bay. The present tower was constructed in 1859. Standing 157˝ feet tall, it is the third lighthouse on this site, replacing earlier structures built in 1823 and 1847. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the present lighthouse is owned by the State of New Jersey (Division of Parks in the Department of Environmental Protection), and is still operated by the U.S. Coast Guard as an active Aid to Navigation. Since December 1986, the Cape May Lighthouse has been leased to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), a non-profit organization located nearby in Cape May. MAC has assumed the responsibility of restoring the lighthouse, interpreting it as a historic site, and opening it to the general public.
You may begin your Lighthouse visit at the Oil House, which contains an Orientation Exhibit and the Lighthouse Museum Shop.
Erected by The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities.
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 month for this entry is December 1986.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Maritime Sentinels (here, next to this marker); Lighthouse Keepers' Homes & Gardens (a few steps from this marker); Oil House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Oil House (a few steps from this marker); Monomoy Lifesaving Boat (a few steps from this marker); The Cape May Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Fragile Flyers (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Swarms of Dragonflies (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape May.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 17, 2022
2. Welcome to the Cape May Lighthouse Marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 17, 2022
3. A view of the lighthouse from the visitor center
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
