Cape May is a city located at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey. It is one of the country’s oldest vacation resort destinations and has a rich history that spans centuries. Here are some highlights of Cape May’s history:
- The earliest inhabitants of the peninsula were the Kechemeche Indians of the Lenni-Lenape tribe who mainly hunted these grounds1
- The area was first sighted by Sir Henry Hudson in 1609, and explored by Cornelius Jacobsen Mey in 1621, who named it after himself2
- The first residents purchased land from the Indians in the 1630s and developed a prosperous fishing and whaling industry1
- In 1766, Cape Island began to attract visitors from Philadelphia and other cities, who came by horse-drawn wagons, stagecoaches, sloops and schooners. They enjoyed the sea-bathing, fishing, oysters and crabs1
- By 1834, there were six boarding houses and Cape Island became a popular destination for the elite of New York, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia. Hotel size increased and music pavilions and ballrooms blossomed1
- In 1847, a two-week stay by Henry Clay reinforced Cape Island’s position as the major seaside resort in the country, and so began its reign as the Queen of the Seaside Resorts1
- In 1852, a group of investors began building the largest hotel in the world, the Mt. Vernon Hotel, which could accommodate 3500 guests. However, it was destroyed by fire in 1856, along with many other hotels and buildings in Cape May12
- The city decided to rebuild itself in Victorian style, with Queen Anne, Gothic and American bracketed architecture. The entire city of Cape May is designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its concentration of Victorian buildings2
- The Civil War caused the southern patrons to disappear overnight, but the completion of the railroad from Philadelphia to Cape Island in 1863 sparked a new era of development. Many Philadelphia families built their own summer cottages on the island1
- Cape May continued to be a popular resort destination throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, attracting visitors from all over the country and the world. It is known for its beaches, historic sites, restaurants, shops, festivals and events23
I hope this gives you an overview of Cape May’s history. If you want to learn more, you can visit these websites: Official Website for the City of Cape May, Cape May Wikipedia page, Cape May County History page.
