Cape Henlopen - Timeline of Cape Henlopen

Timeline of Cape Henlopen

  • 1682 William Penn designates the area as public land.
  • 1767-9 Construction of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse completed at the Great Dune - the sixth lighthouse on American soil. This construction was funded by the merchants of Philadelphia.
  • 1777 the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was gutted by fire.
  • 1784 the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was repaired and returned to active duty.
  • 1824 The Cape Henlopen Beacon was constructed on a 45 foot (14 m) tower about a mile (1.6 km) north of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse.
  • 1855 Construction of the Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse completed.
  • 1869 Construction of the Delaware Breakwater West End Lighthouse and stone breakwater barrier completed.
  • 1885 The steel Strickland Lighthouse replaces the lighthouse on the inner breakwater.
  • 1901 Construction of the 8,000 foot (2.4 km) long outer stone breakwater barrier completed.
  • 1903 The Strickland Lighthouse is retired from service.
  • c. 1915 to 1920 Radio Compass Station built
  • 1918 6-inch gun platform built (WWI era)
  • 1920 Cape Henlopen Lighthouse badly damaged by a storm.
  • 1924 Cape Henlopen Lighthouse abandoned - lens removed.
  • 1926 (April 13) Cape Henlopen Lighthouse collapsed due to movement of Great Dune.
  • 1941 U.S. Army established Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen.
  • 1950 The Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse demolished and the East End Lighthouse was automated.
  • 1964 The U.S. Department of Defense declared 543 acres (2.20 km2) as surplus property and the State of Delaware established Cape Henlopen State Park.
  • 1966 The USS Buncombe County (LST-510) was renamed MV Cape Henlopen and converted to a passenger and auto ferry.
  • 1978 The Fenwick Lighthouse is decommissioned.
  • Gordon's Pond Wildlife Area established.
  • 1982 The State of Delaware assumed ownership of the Fenwick lighthouse and it was electrified and returned to operation.
  • 1997 The State of Delaware purchased the East End lighthouse and placed it on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2007 The two 300 ft (91 m) groins of Herring Point originally built in 1950 are cleaned up and rebuilt.

National Harbor of Refuge, outer breakwater off Cape Henlopen. All metal, built in 1926 and automated in 1973. Maintained by US Coast Guard. Visible from Cape May-Lewes Ferry.

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