Things to do
There are some wonderful things to see and do in the Lewes area so why not add a sight-seeing trip to your Beachcombing weekend? This historic region abounds with numerous opportunities to explore - museums, lighthouses, interesting shops, galleries and restaurants as well as the beautiful shoreline of nearby Cape Henlopen State Park.Below is a list of notable history and shipwreck museums, lighthouses, art centers, and other notable places of interest in Lewes and the neighboring vicinity. IBC beachcombers will be going to two of these museums (as noted) during field trips.
MUSEUMS
Zwaanendael Museum (IBC partner)
102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE (302) 645-1148 http://history.delaware.gov/museums/zm/visitors.shtml
Rehoboth Beach Museum
Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Fee: $5, Seniors: $3 (302) 227-7310 http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org/j/
Treasures of the Sea Exhibit
Delaware Technical & Community College, Stephen J. Betze Library Building Route 18/404 Seashore Highway, Georgetown, DE. Fee $5 (302-856-5700) http://www.treasuresofthesea.org/
Discover Sea Shipwreck Museum (IBC partner)
708 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE 19944-4408
(302) 541-9300 www.discoversea.com
Ocean City Life-Saving Museum
813 S. Atlantic Avenue, at the extreme southern end of OC Boardwalk, overlooking the Inlet and Assateague Island
Call for winter hours: (410) 289-4991
http://www.ocmuseum.org/index.php/site/shipwrecks/
The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is one of only a handful of old Life-Saving Stations being preserved for historical purposes. This well-maintained building, with its red roof and white cypress siding, was built in and recalls the surfmen’s courageous efforts against the awesome forces of nature. The job of the lifesavers was to rescue shipwreck victims and they saved 7,502 lives on the Eastern Shore.
Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum
Located on Route 1, 3.5 miles south of Dewey Beach and 1.5 miles north of the Indian River Inlet
Call for winter hours: (302) 227-6991 www.destateparks.com
The station was built in 1876 for use by the United States Lifesaving Service, a government organization created to respond to the alarming number of shipwrecks along the coastlines of the United States. This building was originally located 400 feet closer to the shore, but a sand dune began to form around it almost as soon as it was finished. It was moved to its present location in 1877.
LIGHTHOUSES and LIGHTSHIPSFor those who love lighthouses:
Lighthouses website
THE ARTS
Rehoboth Art League
12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Nov. hrs: M-St 10-4 PM Sun. 12-4 PM
302-227-8408 http://www.rehobothartleague.org/links.htm
Along with gorgeous original artworks by local artists (that are for sale), the Rehoboth Art League boasts one of the most beautiful series of beach murals comprised of mid-Atlantic shells found anywhere on the east coast
BEACH PARKS/WORLD WAR II History
Fort Meyers Historical Area/Henlopen State Park
5099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE 19958
Phone: (302) 644-5007 http://www.destateparks.com/attractions/fort-miles/events.asp
During World War II, the Delaware River was a chief priority for defense planners because of the access it afforded to the giant trade centers of Wilmington, Philadelphia, and beyond. Fort Miles, located in what is now Cape Henlopen State Park, was a key piece in the nation's coastal defense at that time. The heavy guns, mine fields and searchlights of Fort Miles provided in-depth defense; however, the growing use of long-range missiles brought an end to harbor defenses in the United States. By 1958, Fort Miles was no longer important to the defense of the region, and in 1964, 543 acres of the base were returned to the State of Delaware, forming the heart of Cape Henlopen State Park. In April 2005, Fort Miles was added to the National Register of Historic Places.World War II Observation TowersAs you travel on Route I north towards Lewes, you will see a series of cement towers popping up along the coastline. These towers were erected during WWII because it was believed that after Pearl Harbor, the Delaware Beaches were in danger. (In 1942 the German U-boats were sinking an average of one ship per week. One boat, the Jacob Jones, was torpedoed off the Delaware coast and over 100 of its crew perished.) Eight of 11 WWII towers built along the Delaware and New Jersey coastlines are on DE. Beaches. They were used as artillery spotting locations to coordinate artillery fire on enemy ships off our coast. These fortifications were built between 1940 to 1942 and huge fortifications were erected at the mouth of the Delaware Bay to protect Philadelphia. The towers have different heights and some of them have only two viewing slits, while others have four. Apparently, the military could see about 14 1/2 miles into the Atlantic.
For more information and to view the towers, visit: http://www.aboutmybeaches.com/3292/delawares-world-war-ii-towers-delaware-beaches-south-bethany-dewey-beach-lewes-rehoboth-beach-history-buffs-fort-miles-re-enactment-artillery-demonstrations-102410/
MUSEUMS
Zwaanendael Museum (IBC partner)
102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE (302) 645-1148 http://history.delaware.gov/museums/zm/visitors.shtml
Rehoboth Beach Museum
Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Fee: $5, Seniors: $3 (302) 227-7310 http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org/j/
Treasures of the Sea Exhibit
Delaware Technical & Community College, Stephen J. Betze Library Building Route 18/404 Seashore Highway, Georgetown, DE. Fee $5 (302-856-5700) http://www.treasuresofthesea.org/
Discover Sea Shipwreck Museum (IBC partner)
708 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE 19944-4408
(302) 541-9300 www.discoversea.com
Ocean City Life-Saving Museum
813 S. Atlantic Avenue, at the extreme southern end of OC Boardwalk, overlooking the Inlet and Assateague Island
Call for winter hours: (410) 289-4991
http://www.ocmuseum.org/index.php/site/shipwrecks/
The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is one of only a handful of old Life-Saving Stations being preserved for historical purposes. This well-maintained building, with its red roof and white cypress siding, was built in and recalls the surfmen’s courageous efforts against the awesome forces of nature. The job of the lifesavers was to rescue shipwreck victims and they saved 7,502 lives on the Eastern Shore.
Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum
Located on Route 1, 3.5 miles south of Dewey Beach and 1.5 miles north of the Indian River Inlet
Call for winter hours: (302) 227-6991 www.destateparks.com
The station was built in 1876 for use by the United States Lifesaving Service, a government organization created to respond to the alarming number of shipwrecks along the coastlines of the United States. This building was originally located 400 feet closer to the shore, but a sand dune began to form around it almost as soon as it was finished. It was moved to its present location in 1877.
LIGHTHOUSES and LIGHTSHIPSFor those who love lighthouses:
Lighthouses website
THE ARTS
Rehoboth Art League
12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Nov. hrs: M-St 10-4 PM Sun. 12-4 PM
302-227-8408 http://www.rehobothartleague.org/links.htm
Along with gorgeous original artworks by local artists (that are for sale), the Rehoboth Art League boasts one of the most beautiful series of beach murals comprised of mid-Atlantic shells found anywhere on the east coast
BEACH PARKS/WORLD WAR II History
Fort Meyers Historical Area/Henlopen State Park
5099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE 19958
Phone: (302) 644-5007 http://www.destateparks.com/attractions/fort-miles/events.asp
During World War II, the Delaware River was a chief priority for defense planners because of the access it afforded to the giant trade centers of Wilmington, Philadelphia, and beyond. Fort Miles, located in what is now Cape Henlopen State Park, was a key piece in the nation's coastal defense at that time. The heavy guns, mine fields and searchlights of Fort Miles provided in-depth defense; however, the growing use of long-range missiles brought an end to harbor defenses in the United States. By 1958, Fort Miles was no longer important to the defense of the region, and in 1964, 543 acres of the base were returned to the State of Delaware, forming the heart of Cape Henlopen State Park. In April 2005, Fort Miles was added to the National Register of Historic Places.World War II Observation TowersAs you travel on Route I north towards Lewes, you will see a series of cement towers popping up along the coastline. These towers were erected during WWII because it was believed that after Pearl Harbor, the Delaware Beaches were in danger. (In 1942 the German U-boats were sinking an average of one ship per week. One boat, the Jacob Jones, was torpedoed off the Delaware coast and over 100 of its crew perished.) Eight of 11 WWII towers built along the Delaware and New Jersey coastlines are on DE. Beaches. They were used as artillery spotting locations to coordinate artillery fire on enemy ships off our coast. These fortifications were built between 1940 to 1942 and huge fortifications were erected at the mouth of the Delaware Bay to protect Philadelphia. The towers have different heights and some of them have only two viewing slits, while others have four. Apparently, the military could see about 14 1/2 miles into the Atlantic.
For more information and to view the towers, visit: http://www.aboutmybeaches.com/3292/delawares-world-war-ii-towers-delaware-beaches-south-bethany-dewey-beach-lewes-rehoboth-beach-history-buffs-fort-miles-re-enactment-artillery-demonstrations-102410/