1954 Map of Cape Henlopen

About this map

The coastal landscape of Cape Henlopen at the mouth of the Delaware Bay reflects a maritime economy built on navigation and rail transport. The city of Lewes serves as the focal point, where the Penn Central and Lewes and Rehoboth railroads terminate near the sheltered waters of Breakwater Harbor. This 1954 survey, with updates from 1972, reveals a shoreline fortified by breakwaters and marked by navigational infrastructure, including a Coast Guard Station, a Lighthouse, and multiple towers such as Tower No 8 and Tower No 4A. Beyond the industrial and residential corridors, the terrain shifts into the shifting Sand Dunes and the broad tidal flats of District No 10. The map also captures significant nautical hazards like the Hen and Chickens Shoal and The Shears, highlighting the complexity of the Harbor of Refuge for mid-century shipping.