Both the historic light mechanisms that ended up at Cape Bonavista, the one from the Bell Rock and the one from Isle of May were installed by Robert Oke, who served as the first Chief Inspector of the Newfoundland Lighthouse Service.

In 1962 the lighthouse went dark, replaced by an electric light on a nearby steel skeleton tower.

The rare catoptrics lighting system, made up of Argand oil lamps and parabolic mirrors of polished silver, is on display.

Exhibits on local industry include coopering, fishing, whaling and sealing, as well as the ecological history of Cape Bonavista.

As lightning struck repeatedly all around the cape, the lighthouse tower was hit three times, igniting a fire.