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Cape May Historic District, Cape May, NJ

Photo: Smallbones, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffDate NightFree

Cape May Historic District

Around Washington Street Mall and Ocean St · Cape May, NJ

Why you should go…

Cape May's historic district covers 380 acres and more than 600 buildings, most of them late Victorian frame houses, inns and hotels trimmed with gingerbread detail. Much of it was rebuilt after an 1878 fire destroyed about half the town, and the district became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. You can walk the streets on your own or take a guided trolley tour from the Washington Street Mall stop, and the 1879 Physick House Museum is part of some tours.

  • #victorian architecture
  • #historic district
  • #trolley tours
  • #walking tour
  • #jersey shore

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cape May Historic District, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cape May Fisherman

    $50+

    Party fishing boat running half-day and full-day trips out of Cape May, NJ.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Revolution Rail Co.

    $25–$50

    Guided rail bike rides along a scenic four-mile stretch of coastal rail line in Cape May.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Cape May Whale Watcher

    $25–$50

    Naturalist-guided whale and dolphin watching cruises departing Cape May Harbor.

    0.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Cape May Lighthouse

    Under $25

    Climb 199 spiral steps inside an 1859 lighthouse for views over Delaware Bay, the Atlantic and Cape May Point.

    2.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    Wildwoods Boardwalk

    Free

    Historic beachfront boardwalk district with amusement piers, tram cars and seasonal entertainment in the Wildwoods.

    5.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    The Wildwoods

    Free

    Classic Jersey Shore boardwalk towns: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and North Wildwood, on a five-mile barrier island.

    6.4 mi awayMore like this