By Tyler Dreiblatt, Interpretive Programs Manager at Cape Henlopen State Park

All photographs courtesy of the Delaware State Parks Cultural Resources Unit

Cape Henlopen’s Strategic Location

Cape Henlopen has been an important strategic location since before our country was founded. In 1775, a lighthouse located at the cape was designated Station Number 1 by the patriot-aligned Pennsylvania Committee for Safety, responsible for alerting continental forces to any British ships entering the Delaware River. A year later a small patriot militia fended off the British warship HMS Roebuck, while in 1813 the town of Lewes was bombarded by the British HMS Poiciters. Read more…