Cape May NJ Lighthouse

[NGS Surveyor]

This past weekend my wife and I visited Cape Map, NJ. While there we climbed to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse - all 199 steps. This Lighthouse is significant because it was the eastern most point of the 39th Parallel Survey (also called the Transcontinental Arc of Triangulation) conducted by the USC&GS from c1870 to c1899. I asked if the top of the Lighthouse has ever been rebuilt and was told no, so it is the original surveyed point. Here are some photos:

 

 

 

Two photos show the LH, one shows the Village of Cape May in the distance, and the last shows some surveyors doing beach profiles below the LH. The view from the top is something like the view from the top of a Bilby Tower. It reminded me how hard it is sometimes to pick out distance towers out at the horizon. Here is a sketch from USC&GS Special Pub #4, showing the eastern end of the triangulation . The four eastern most stations are all on lighthouses.

 

GeorgeL

NGS

[NGS Surveyor]

Sorry the photos didn't come through, here is the link to them in my FLICKR account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12262796@N06/3306813219/

 

GeorgeL

NGS

[+Ernmark]

..and it has this cool 'bench' carved into the side:

 

Edit to add this pic as well:

(I'm a big fan of this benchmark - try to climb the 199 steps at least once every year!)

 

PS still haven't recovered HU1294 ..although 2 RMs are alive & well.

Edited February 26, 2009 by Ernmark

[NGS Surveyor]

Wow, I missed the 1867 bench mark, guess I'll have to go back! What are the letters or numbers above the date?

 

GeorgeL

NGS

[+Ernmark]

"USCS" - it's on the SE side about chest level.