The first man to set foot on the Cape Agulhas was the well known character from our history books Bartholomew Diaz, who in 1488 raised his cross to mark his landing here. And its here that Bartholomew Diaz made his mark in 1488, that one of the first three lighthouses of South Africa was build. Today the Cape L’Agulhas Light house is the second oldest light house in South Africa that is still in working condition.
The Cape L’Agulhas lighthouse first showed his light on the 1 March 1849. The light was fuelled by the tail-fat of sheep in those days. Only in 1905 did they install an oil-burning lantern, and then again in 1929 the oil-burner was replaced with petroleum. Seven years later it was replaced again this time by a four-kilowatt electric lamp that was powered by a diesel generator. In 1968 we thought the light house has had its last days as it was shut down dew to the building that was in a bad condition, five years later the building was declared a national monument and also the Western Cape provincial heritage site. With the Help of Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum and the Local Council the building was restored, renovated and open its doors to the public again in 1988. Today the lighthouse consist of a museum that use to be the keepers house and a small restaurant were you can enjoy a cup of coffee after you have climb the 27m high tower stairs to get to the top for one of the most spectacular views ever.
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