Cape May Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Cape May Lighthouse | |
 Cape May Lighthouse
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Cape May Lighthouse
Location in New Jersey
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| Location | Cape May Point, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 38°55′58.8″N 74°57′37.5″W / 38.933000°N 74.960417°W |
| Year first lit | 1859 |
| Automated | 1946 |
| Deactivated | Active |
| Foundation | Surface rock |
| Construction | Brick, biegetower, red cupola |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Height | 157 feet (48 m) (165 feet (50 m) above sea level) |
| Original lens | First order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | VRB-25 |
| Range | 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) |
| Characteristic | White, Flashes every 15 sec |
The Cape May Lighthouse is a tall, historic lighthouse in New Jersey, USA. It stands at the very tip of Cape May, inside Cape May Point State Park. This lighthouse was built in 1859 by engineer William F. Raynolds.
It started working automatically in 1946 and is still active today. This is the third lighthouse built in this area. The first two were built in 1823 and 1847. Their original spots are now underwater because of erosion.
You can climb 199 steps to reach the top of the lighthouse. From there, you get amazing views! You can see Cape May City and Wildwood to the north. To the south, you'll see Cape May Point. On a clear day, you might even spot Cape Henlopen, Delaware, across the water. Close by, you can see Cape May Cove and Battery 223, an old defense structure from World War II. The Cape May Lighthouse became a National Register of Historic Places site on November 12, 1973.
The lighthouse is in Lower Township. However, it is also a symbol for Cape May Point. The town even uses the lighthouse as a logo on its vehicles.
Contents
How the Lighthouse Works
The state of New Jersey owns the Cape May Lighthouse. Ownership was transferred from the Coast Guard in 1992. The state keeps it running as an important guide for ships.
Who Manages the Lighthouse?
The State of New Jersey leases the lighthouse and its surrounding land to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). MAC is a group that helps restore and maintain the lighthouse. They also open it to the public for climbs.
Learning at the Lighthouse
MAC has created special exhibits inside the lighthouse. These exhibits teach visitors about the lighthouse's history. You can learn about the lives of the lighthouse keepers. They also share other interesting facts about the maritime history of the Jersey Cape.
In 2013, MAC celebrated 25 years of opening the lighthouse to visitors. Since May 1988, over 2.1 million people have paid to climb to the top. Every October, the Cape May Lighthouse takes part in the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge. This is a fun event across the state.
Lighthouse Design and Structure
The Cape May Lighthouse stands 157 feet 6 inches (48.01 m) tall from the ground. It has a cast iron spiral staircase. There are 217 steps from the ground to the very top. The spiral staircase itself has 199 steps.
Walls of the Lighthouse
The lighthouse has two separate walls. The outer wall is shaped like a cone. It is 3 feet 10 inches (1.17 m) thick at the bottom. It gets thinner towards the top, measuring 1 foot 6 inches (0.46 m) thick there.
The inner wall is a cylinder. Its walls are 8.5-inch-thick (220 mm). This inner wall helps support the spiral staircase. Both walls were built to be very strong. They can withstand winds much stronger than a hurricane.
Images for kids
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View from the beach at sunset
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Cape May Lighthouse (early evening)
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The top of the Cape May Lighthouse on July 4, 2005
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The US and NJ flags at Cape May Lighthouse
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The lighthouse seen from the Cape May cove
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September sunset from Cape May cove
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The view from the top of the Cape May Lighthouse on July 4, 2005
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View from the Delaware Bay
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