Cape May Lighthouse

Year Built

1859

Cost

$40,000

Type

Conical

Height

157 feet

Location

Lower Township

Automated Year

1946

First Lit

1859

Lens Type

First-order Fresnel lens[1] (original), VRB-25[2] (current)

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

Beige tower with red lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Harry H. Palmer (1924 – 1933)

Description

Fully restored and open to the public.

Brief History

•  The new keeper's dwellings were completed the next year in 1860. However, the Cape May Lighthouse, being a first order sea coast lighthouse employed three keepers.
•  In 1938 electricity was supplied for the light.
•  In 1964 the grounds were turned over to the State of New Jersey which created the Cape May Point State Park.
•  In 1968 one of the Keeper’s dwellings, which had been converted to a duplex in 1903, was burned in an arson fire.
•  The title of the lighthouse was officially transferred to the state of New Jersey in 1992.