Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen is the southern cape of the
Delaware Bay along the
Atlantic coast of the
United States. It lies in the state of
Delaware, near the town of
Lewes, Delaware.
Cape Henlopen State Park is a 5,193 acre (21 km²) state park that includes Cape Henlopen. William Penn made it one of the first public lands established in the United States in 1682 with the declaration that Cape Henlopen would be for "the usage of the citizens of Lewes and Sussex County."
The park has a popular, 24 hour and year round fishing pier (on the bay) as well as a campsite (not directly on water). The remainder of the park is only open from sunrise to sunset, and includes a bathhouse on the Atlantic Ocean, an area for surf-fishing, a disc golf course, and bicycle and walking paths.
Entrance is free during off-season (winter), but runs $5-$10 during the on-season (summer).
During World War II, the U.S. Army built Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen. Numerous bunkers, concrete observation towers and the pier that was built to accommodate the laying of mines on the harbor floor remain today. Within the park grounds are a handful of stone towers from that era, as well as underground ammo bunkers dug to be used with the towers against the eventuality of air attack.
Off the coast on the bay side are two lighthouses, called breakwater lights.
Timeline of Cape Henlopen
- 1767-9 Construction of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse completed at the Great Dune - the sixth lighthouse on American soil. This construction was funded by the merchants of Philadelphia.
- 1777 the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was gutted by fire
- 1784 the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was repaired and returned to active duty
- 1824 The Cape Henlopen Beacon was constructed on a 45 foot (14 m) tower about a mile (1.6 km) north of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse.
- 1855 Construction of the Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse completed.
- 1862 William Penn designates the area as public land.
- 1869 Construction of the Delaware Breakwater West End Lighthouse and stone breakwater barrier completed.
- 1885 The steel Strickland Lighthouse replaces the lighthouse on the inner breakwater.
- 1901 Construction of the 8,000 foot (2.4 km) long outer stone breakwater barrier completed.
- 1903 The Strickland Lighthouse is retired from service.
- 1920 Cape Henlopen Lighthouse badly damaged by a storm.
- 1924 Cape Henlopen Lighthouse abandoned - lens removed.
- 1926 (April 13) Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed due to movement of Great Dune.
- 1941 U.S. Army established Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen.
- 1950 The Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse demolished and the East End Lighthouse was automated.
- 1964 The U.S. Department of Defense declared 543 acres as surplus property and the State of Delaware established Cape Henlopen State Park.
- 1978 The Fenwick Lighthouse is decommissioned.
- Gordon's Pond Wildlife Area established
- 1982 The State of Delaware assumed ownership of the Fenwick lighthouse and it was electrified and returned to operation.
- 1997 The State of Delaware purchased the East End lighthouse and placed it on the National Register of Historic Places.
National Harbor of Refuge, outer breakwater off Cape Henlopen. All metal, built in 1926 and automated in 1973. Maintained by US Coast Guard. Visible from Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
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