History of the Mall

Cape May rescued its downtown for posterity with a farsighted move: in 1970-71 (dedicated June 24, 1971) the city closed Washington Street to traffic between Ocean and Perry Streets, filled in the street, placed park benches everywhere, and planted the newly created walking mall with trees, shrubbery, and flowers. Then, in May 1976, the Secretary of the Interior designated the entire city of Cape May as a National Historic Landmark District, thus ensuring the continued protection of our quaint, historical shopping mall. Today, it is a delight...to enjoy, to stroll, to shop; an old downtown, that has turned its back on the automobile and maybe even on time itself.

The little downtown has been seriously threatened several times by devastating fires. The fire of 1878, which leveled five solid blocks of Cape May's oldest hotel and homes, took with it the Centre House Hotel (c. 1850) which stood on the ocean side of Washington Street between Jackson and Perry Streets. The Center House Hotel was replaced with store-front buildings, extending the shopping district to Perry Street. Then, in December 1976, in the midst of Christmas revelry, fire destroyed the other side of the same block, taking 301 through 311 with it. The block was quickly rebuilt with attractive shops that were open for business-as-usual for the following summer season.

Be sure to visit Cape May's Washington Street Mall and Historic District on your next visit to the Jersey Shore.