Cape May Lighthouse

{{Short description|Lighthouse in New Jersey, United States}}

{{Infobox lighthouse

| name = Cape May Lighthouse

| image = Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May, New Jersey, USA.jpg

| caption = Cape May Lighthouse

| location = Lower Township, New Jersey

| coordinates = {{coord|38|55|58.8|N|74|57|37.5|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| yearlit = {{Date and age|1859}}

| automated = 1946

| yeardeactivated = Active

| foundation = Surface rock

| construction = Brick, biegetower, red cupola

| shape = Conical

| height = {{convert|157|ft}} ({{convert|165|ft}} above sea level)

| lens = First-order Fresnel lens{{cite web| title= Inventory of Historic Light Stations – New Jersey |url=http://www.nps.gov/maritime/light/capemay.htm | work=Maritime Heritage Program |publisher= National Park Service|date=2004-11-05 | access-date=2009-04-09}} (original), VRB-25{{cite web | url=https://www.capemaymac.org/lighthouse-important-dates | title=History of the Cape May Lighthouse | publisher=Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities | access-date=June 29, 2018}} (current)

| range = {{convert|24|nmi}}

| characteristic = White, Flashes every 15 sec

| module = {{infobox NRHP

| name = Cape May Lighthouse

| embed = yes

| nrhp_type =

| image =

| caption =

| architect =

| architecture =

| added = November 12, 1973

| area =

| governing_body =

| refnum = 73001090{{NRISref|version=2013a|dateform=mdy}}

| designated_other1_name = New Jersey Register of Historic Places

| designated_other1_abbr = NJRHP

| designated_other1_link = New Jersey Register of Historic Places

| designated_other1_date = June 15, 1973

| designated_other1_number = 998{{cite web|title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Cape May County |url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/cape_may.pdf |publisher=NJ DEP – Historic Preservation Office |page=3 |date=March 1, 2011 |access-date=April 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628182911/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/cape_may.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2011 }}

| designated_other1_num_position = bottom

| designated_other1_color = #ffc94b

}}

}}

The Cape May Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in the U.S. state of New Jersey at the tip of Cape May, in Lower Township's Cape May Point State Park. It was built in 1859 under the supervision of U.S. Army engineer William F. Raynolds, was automated in 1946, and continues operation to this day.

Cape May Lighthouse is the third fully documented lighthouse to be built at Cape May Point. The first was built in 1823 and the second in 1847.{{Cite web|date=2012-11-04|title=Inventory of Historic Light Stations – New Jersey – Cape May Light|url=http://www.nps.gov/maritime/light/capemay.htm|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104074116/http://www.nps.gov/maritime/light/capemay.htm|archive-date=2012-11-04}} The exact locations of the first two lighthouses are now underwater due to erosion. There are 199 steps to the top of the Lighthouse. The view from the top extends to Cape May City and Wildwood to the north, Cape May Point to the south, and, on a clear day, Cape Henlopen, Delaware, to the west. Within immediate view are Cape May Cove and Battery 223, a harbor defense battery originally built during World War II. Cape May Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1973.{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=73001090}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Cape May Lighthouse |publisher=National Park Service|access-date=September 1, 2018}} With {{NRHP url|id=73001090|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}

The Cape May Light is located in Lower Township, but is also a point of identity for Cape May Point as it uses the lighthouse as a logo for municipal-owned vehicles. Mayors of the two municipalities previously had a conflict over in which municipality it was located.Degener, Richard. [https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-lower-township-police-cars-roll-in-black-and-white/article_01be2ae6-5724-506a-abbd-11ae0ec254a6.html "New Lower Township police cars roll in black and white"], The Press of Atlantic City, May 22, 2009. Accessed July 3, 2011. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1285E20765344EA8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info] and [https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-lower-township-police-cars-roll-in-black-and-white/image_dbac3f02-9f34-5001-9bbd-54e83b8b3309.html Image caption] – Quote: "The department on Thursday unveiled its new emblem featuring a picture of the Cape May Lighthouse, which is located next to Cape May Point State Park, and, like the park itself, is actually in Lower Township. Mayors in Lower Township Cape May and Cape May Point have sparred in years past over claims to the lighthouse."