Our family has a fondness for lighthouses and we thought it might
be fun to start a geocache series that highlighted different
lighthouses. So, we are starting with NJ (a personal favorite) and,
hopefully, the series will afford cachers the opportunity to learn
about various lighthouses and have some fun along the way. This
cache is located in Leesylvania State Park and there is an entrance
fee. Currently they are open until 7:30 p.m. Cape May Lighthouse,
is fourth on the list. We hope that you enjoy the series!
Cape May's 157-foot-high lighthouse is still an aid to
navigation and visitors, who climb the 199 steps to the top of the
lighthouse, are rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of the
scenic Cape May peninsula. The first known lighthouse at Cape May
was built in 1823. By 1847 a new lighthouse was erected on a high
bluff, however, due to the encroaching sea and poor building design
it was eventually dismantled. Built in 1859, the current lighthouse
used the original bricks of the 1847 lighthouse.
The Cape May Ocean Wave, in 1882, reported that "the gentleman
superintendent in charge (of the lighthouse), Mr. Samuel Stillwell,
takes pleasure in showing visitors who have the nerve and strength
of limb to the top, the interior of the lantern, and explaining the
interesting operations of the light. A very picturesque view of the
sea, bay, and country may also be obtained from the giddy heights
of the edifice."
CAPE MAY LIGHT
State: NEW JERSEY
Location: DELAWARE BAY ENTRANCE
Nearest City: CAPE MAY
County: CAPE MAY U.S.C.G.
District: 5
Year Station Established: 1823
Existing Historic Tower:
Year Light First Lit: 1859
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1946
Foundation Materials: SURFACE ROCK
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: BIEGE TOWER W/RED LANTERN
Shape: CONICAL
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 157
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1853
Present Optic: DCB-36
Year Present Lens Installed: 1946
Height of Focal Plane: 175
Fresnel Lens Disposition: FIRST ORDER LENS AT CAPE MAY COUNTY
COURTHOUSE
Previous Tower(s):
1. Construction Date: 1823
Description: CONICAL TOWER
Fate/Disposition: ERODED
2. Construction Date: 1847
Description: CONICAL TOWER
Fate/Disposition: DEMOLISHED C. 1859 DUE TO POOR CONSTRUCTION
Modern Tower? NO
Existing Sound Signal Building? NO
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES
Year Constructed: 1860
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: CAPE COD
Construction Materials: WOOD
Other Structures: STORAGE BUILDING, BRICK OIL HOUSE (1893)
Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION/HISTORIC SITE IN STATE
PARK
Owner/Manager: STATE OF NEW JERSEY LEASE TO MID-ATLANTIC CTR FOR
ARTS
Web Site: WWW.CAPEMAYMAC.ORG
Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit by Region for
access information)
National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #73001090
Name of Listing: CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1973
Since the Cape May Lighthouse is located in a NJ State Park, and
the Lighthouse link transfers you to a NJ State Park Site,
interested persons may read official NJ state disclaimer,
trademark, copyright, and privacy policies at the New Jersey State
Web
Site.
Silly, useless factoids, about the Cape May Point Lighthouse, that
occured to us, after the day that we visited it in July.
1. A little breeze on the ground becomes quite a "blow" up top.
2. There is a really good reason for the red bars around the open
walkway on top. The bars still don't stop the feeling of
discomforture when the building is swaying to the wind. And, no,
none of us are afraid of heights.
3. There are red bars in some of my photos because I couldn't
steady my camera, holding it outside of the bars, and hold onto the
bars, for my own edification, (all at the same time)! : )
4. For those of us, who carry some extra weight on our skeletal
infrastructure, you will want to schedule extra time to climb the
199 steps. And take advantage of the 6 landings. Because the steps
are not at a, say, 10 degree slope upward. They are just up. Very
straight up.
5. The climb up is so very worth it.
6. The concrete building that you can see in the "eastern" view, at
the water's edge, is a WWII bunker (that used to be on a hill - a
little erosion has occured) and we didn't know it was there. Now we
have to go back AGAIN to see THAT! Because, after reading about it,
we think it bears further investigation and sightseeing!!
7. There is a excellently placed physical geocache near the
lighthouse, placed by Olympicking. A most outstanding hide.
8. There are dolphins to be seen.
9. Plan to stay for the flag ceremony, on nearby Sunset Beach, at
sundown - we didn't and regret it. Rumor has it that it is well
worth the time.
10. The whole Cape May Point State Park should be thouroughly
visited.
About this cache -
It is located in
Leesylvania State Park and there is a parking fee of
$3/weekdays or $5/weekend days.
It is a small ammo can with (initially) several books (mostly
childrens'), some magazines, several toys, and 2 FTF prizes.
It can be reached by someone in a wheelchair, although the ground
is packed dirt and grass. Depending on the number of vehicles in
small parking lot, you may/may not be able to park within 5 ft of
cache and direct access to cache may be blocked.
View
Accesibility Ratings for GC124KE
Happy hunting!