Cape May in 1964

This rare home video gives viewers a glance into America's original resort city (the island's first hotel opened in 1786) and National Historic Landmark, Cape May, NJ. Visitors have graced these shores since the days of our founding fathers, escaping to Cape May, or Cape Island as it was then known, for the soothing ocean breezes, hospitality of friendly locals, and the unrivaled beauty of the Cape.

Two devastating fires roared through the heart of the city in 1869 and 1878, destroying the colonial town origins. The buildings were replaced by Victorian structures that still stand today, thanks to the foresight and dedication of Cape May's preservation pioneers, who refused to back down to the bulldozers and wrecking balls of Urban Renewal "progress."

Cape May in 1964, looks very different from the city we all know and recognize today. Some of the buildings are gone, others have been altered, and nearly every structure has undergone extensive restorations. This is your chance to see the city as it was, prior to the battle between Urban Rewal and Preservation.

Video created by Ben Miller, Historical Editor for Exit Zero Publishing
Footage shot by Lynn Zettlemoyer