CAPE MAY – Explore historic lifesaving sites at the Jersey Shore Mon., March 19 on a trolley tour to two Cape May County landmarks dedicated to protecting lives along the coast.
Spring Expedition 2012, sponsored by the Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse, an affinity group of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), will take tourgoers by trolley from Cape May to the Tatham Life Saving Station in Stone Harbor and the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood. You will have the chance to meet fellow lighthouse and maritime history enthusiasts and enjoy guided tours at each stop, learning about the important role each site has played in keeping our shores safe.
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Museum in North Wildwood is a working lighthouse that is listed on the State and National Historic Registers. Visitors can climb the lighthouse and learn about its history and the life of a lighthouse keeper in the 19th and 20th centuries. A park surrounding the lighthouse contains over 200 plant varieties in award-winning gardens designed in the Victorian cottage style. A gift shop is on site and the garden and grounds around the lighthouse are wheelchair accessible.
The Tatham Life Saving Station in Stone Harbor was built in 1895 and today serves as home to the Stephen C. Ludlam Post 331 of the American Legion, whose members are working to preserve the site. Numerous military artifacts from World War II to the present are on display and murals and descriptive panels help describe the history of the U.S. Life Saving Service in the early 1900s.
Tourgoers will board a MAC trolley at 10 a.m. Mon., March 19 at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. and will return to Cape May at approximately 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $10 for Friends of the Lighthouse. Parking is free at the Physick Estate.
The Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse organized in February 2011, and is devoted to raising awareness of the historic significance and value of the Cape May Lighthouse. The Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse is an affinity group of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). Become a Friend of the Cape May Lighthouse and receive discounts on these and future programs, unlimited free membership to the Cape May Lighthouse, a free Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse pin and invitations to special programs, in addition to all the benefits of MAC membership.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about becoming a friend or a member, or about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org.
