1984 Map of Cape Henlopen

About this map

Cape Henlopen forms a distinctive hook of land where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, a landscape defined by shifting Flat Sands and Sand Hill. This 1980s era survey illustrates the intersection of maritime commerce and preservation, centered on the Cape Henlopen State Park and the vital shipping channels protected by the massive Breakwater. The map details a complex coastal infrastructure, including numerous instances of Light and Lighthouse structures, and a Lookout Tower system essential for navigating the treacherous Hen and Chickens Shoal. Settlements like Lewes and rural reaches such as Gills Neck and Wolfe Neck are shown alongside scientific and defensive footprints like the Univ of Del Col of Marine Studies and the U S Military Reservation. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry provides a critical link across the water, marking the transition from the protected waters of Harbor of Refuge to the open sea.