After leaving the lighthouse park I took a ride along the promenade. Cape may does not have a traditional wooden boardwalk. Across the street from the beach are amazing painted ladies. For those who do not know about them, they are grand Victorian houses that are painted with three or more colors. The only city in the US that has more of them than Cape May, NJ is San Fransisco, CA. The entire city of Cape May was placed on the national historic register as a National Landmark. In 1878 30 blocks of the oldest seaside town in the nation burned to the ground. They wasted no time rebuilding in the then modern style later known as the Victorian Era with lots of turrets, gingerbread trim and gables.
In the 1960s there was almost more damage than the fire. A building boom to make way for the more modern was underway destroying many of these fine old homes. In 1978 they fought and won the battle to put the town on the national historic register. But what was to become of these grand old houses. Many of then have been turned into Inns, Bed and Breakfast and restaurant. Just a few pictures of the many in Cape May.
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| It is a beautiful place to visit if you are in the area. |
Those are some magnificent houses.
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