Cape May Lighthouse
The Cape May Lighthouse, located in Cape May Point State Park, was built in 1859. The lighthouse (pictured below) is the third 'documented'[1] lighthouse constructed in Cape May. The previous two lighthouses, built in 1823 and 1847, both suffered from structural problems due to the eroding shoreline.[2]
The current lighthouse was built much further inland to protect against erosion and “designed to withstand winds several times above hurricane force.” The lighthouse is 157 feet 6 inches tall making it the tallest of the three lighthouses built in Cape May. The structure was built with two separate walls. There is an outer cone shaped wall 3 feet 10 inches at the bottom that tapers to 1 foot 6 inches at the top. There is also an inner cylindrical wall 8 1/2 inches thick that supports the staircase.[3]
Today, the Cape May Lighthouse still shines bright. If you are taking a trip to Cape May, the lighthouse is definitely worth the visit. Below are some photos I shot of the lighthouse.
