1954 Map of Cape May

About this map

The tip of the New Jersey peninsula is defined by its maritime infrastructure and strategic military presence at the confluence of the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape May Canal bisects the landscape, providing a critical link for the Intracoastal Waterway and separating the northern settlements like North Cape May and Town Bank from the historic core of Cape May city. Large coastal installations including the U S Naval Res and the U S Coast Guard Receiving Center occupy prominent shorefront positions, reflecting the area's mid-century military importance. Inland, the tracks of the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines connect established communities such as Cold Spring and Bennett. Local landmarks like Lake Lily and the Cold Spring Ch offer touchpoints for genealogists researching the older rural fabric that existed before the expansion of the modern Garden State Parkway.