HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Case Study: African American History in Cape May’s Historic District

Cape May City, Cape May County

OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGES
In 1970, the Cape May Historic District was listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places as one of the largest collections of Victorian-era architecture and for its history as a seaside resort community. 50 years later, the municipality wanted to prepare additional documentation to supplement the municipal, state and national designations of the Cape May City Historic District, adding recognition for the African American community and its contributions to the history of the historic district. Cape May’s ordinance calls for the identification and preservation of resources that are significant not only for their architecture, but also for their history. Understanding historic significance requires research and analysis into minority groups that are often under-represented in the written record. The lack of adequate documentation of Cape May’s African American history created challenges for the City in terms of identifying, preserving, and creating public appreciation for resources that may not be architecturally significant, but have historic significance.

PARTNERS
The project was completed by ARCH2, Inc., a historic preservation consultant in Metuchen.

ACTION
The project work was done in three phases. The first phase consisted of thorough historic research and analysis to develop Additional Documentation related to the potential for an additional area of significance, i.e., Ethnic History, for the Cape May Historic District. The documentation was prepared as Additional Documentation for Section 8 of the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places nomination for the Cape May Historic District. The second phase involved assessing the impact of the newly uncovered Section 8 documentation on the entire New Jersey and National Register nomination, thereby amending, as needed, the Section 7 Description (including a re-assessment of the count of Contributing and Non-Contributing resources), the Nomination Form, and Photographs. The third phase and final phase was Public Education.

FUNDING/RESOURCES
This project was completed with money from a Certified Local Government grant. The grant is administered by the DEP’s Historic Preservation Office and the funding is provided by the National Park Service. The Historic Preservation Office is required to regrant 10% of the state’s allocation of federal historic preservation funds for pass-through as sub-grants to Certified Local Government communities. The goals for the grant projects are to identify buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts which are significant in the areas of history, architecture, archaeology, and engineering and which meet the criteria for inclusion in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places; and to design and implement planning tools for the protection of historic resources. As part of the fiscal year 2021 CLG grant round, Cape May was awarded $45,000 to complete the Additional Documentation project.

RESULTS & BENEFITS
The project was completed in 2022, resulting in additional documentation for the National Register nomination, as well as a booklet entitled “African American Ethnic Heritage in the Cape May Historic District.” The additional documentation in the area of African American history was listed on the State Register on July 31, 2024, and it was listed on the National Register on September 16, 2024.

The information from the Additional Documentation has assisted with several of the ordinance’s additional inter-related objectives, i.e., developing pride in a part of the City’s history that has been traditionally under-appreciated, and utilizing that history to support growing tourism efforts related to Cape May’s African American history, thereby fostering economic development, while managing growth in the area(s) of the City significant for its African American history. Finally, Cape May’s project to focus on its African American history not only benefits the City; it also has the potential to be a model for other communities. Many towns have under-appreciated the contribution that African Americans have made to their community. Through this project, Cape May showcases the African American contributions and integrates that story into all aspects of its historic preservation program, including the identification of significant historic themes and resources, the protection of associated resources through its zoning decisions, and the dissemination of the information through its tourism programs. This project exemplifies what can happen when a community recognizes its valuable historic resources and highlights the history of underrepresented groups.