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About Cape May

Key Facts


Latitude:

    38° 6’ 13” N

Longitude:

    74° 54’ 40” W

Founded:

    1761

Population:

    3,850 (winter)

    100,000 (summer)

Annual Visitors:

    500,000

Land Area:

    2.5 square miles

Elevation:

    10 feet

Average High Temps:

    June - 78º

    July - 84º

    August - 83º

Discovered by:

    Cornelius Jacobsen Mey,

    who named it for himself

Some Photos

   Cape May Pictures

   Jennie Lane Cottage

Cape May Links

   Cape May MAC

   Exit Zero


   City of Cape May


   Cape May-Lewes Ferry


   South Cape May Meadows Refuge


   Wikipedia Entry


Other Area Links

   Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center

   Historic Cold Spring Village

   The Museum of Cape May County


A Lot More Links

Jackson Street in July

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The Nation’s First Historic Landmark City

Cape May was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976, the first city to achieve that status, for having “one of the largest collections of 19th-century frame buildings remaining in the United States,” more than 600 in all.  It’s a landmark because of the amazing concentration of Victorian houses throughout the historic core of the city, and because Cape May was the country’s first real beach resort.  In fact, the train from Philadelphia practically let people off on the beach.

Cape May has so many Victorian houses because almost the entire center of the town burned in 1878.  The city was rebuilt immediately in the most current style.  The historic preservation movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s saved most of these houses so that we can see them today.

Not Just Historic

While Cape May’s history is fascinating, that’s not the best reason to visit.  Cape May features spacious white sand beaches, surfing, fishing, wonderful restaurants, jazz, theater and band concerts, at least 4 miniature golf courses and special events all year round.  Birders also know Cape May as one of the best places to be during the spring and fall migrations.

Exit Zero

Cape May is easy to find – just drive south on the Garden State Parkway until it ends, and then keep going south.  It’s about three hours from New York and two and a half hours from Philadelphia.  If you’re coming from Delaware, Maryland or the Washington, D.C. area, you may want to ride here on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, which takes about 70 minutes to cross Delaware Bay.