Built in 1859, the current lighthouse replaces 3 others that stood nearby in the 1700s-1800s's. It is 170 feet tall with 8-foot-thick walls. The Fresnel lens was removed in 1945 and was replaced by a 36-inch rotating aero-beacon lens equipped with a 1,000-watt bulb. This arrangement produced 350,000 candlepower. The lighthouse lens flashes once every fifteen seconds. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts is currently leasing the lighthouse from the state and has restored and repainted the lighthouse to its former glory.
The Cape May Lighthouse is truly a historic landmark located in Cape May Point State Park. Nearly 100,000 visitors climb the tower every year, making it one of the top 50 shore attractions in NJ. You can even climb the tower at night for a spectacular moonlit view. The present tower is the third documented tower to inhabit this historic spot. The Cape May Lighthouse should be an important stop on any vacation to southern New Jersey shore points. See all lighthouses in NJ.
Best NJ Shore lighthouse - Southern Shore Region NJ