This season, visit the amazing museums of Cape May. Learn about Cape May history, take tours, enjoy living exhibits, and much more. All Cape May museums are great but see our top choices below.
Cape May Physick Estate
Number one on our list is the Physick Estate. A preserved Victorian Mansion built in the late 1800s, the Estate serves as a museum and meeting point for most Cape May walking and trolley tours. Enjoy daily house tours, many themed according to season, and learn about Cape May’s Victorian past, grand Architecture, decorative arts, and more.
Cape May County Museum
Visit Cape May County Museum to learn about Cape May’s history, participate in guided tours, and attend lectures, special events, and rotating exhibits. At this museum you’ll see what makes our seaside village and community so special. The museum is housed in three historic buildings including the 1704 Colonial period home, 1830 Federal period addition, carriage she, and a 1780-barn.
Harriet Tubman Museum
Perhaps the newest edition to Cape May’s collection of Museums is the Harriet Tubman Museum, which first opened in 2019. The Harriet Tubman Museum is a tribute to the rich history of abolitionist activism in Cape May. Tubman funded her Underground Railroad voyages by working here and the museum highlights the pivotal role Cape May played in the fight for freedom.
Cape May Lighthouse
Cape May Lighthouse is among the most visited museums in Cape May County. Established in 1957, it welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year, many of whom climb its 199 stairs to the top (the views are remarkable). The lighthouse is situated in Cape May Point State Park which features several walking trails and opportunities to see wildlife. Learn about the stories of lighthouse keepers, the surrounding area, and how the lighthouse operates still today.
Cape May Naval Aviation Museum
Located inside historic Hangar #1 at the Cape May Airport, the Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) Aviation Museum is a non-profit museum that celebrates NASW and Cape May’s naval aviation history. Today, Hangar #1 has been restored and transformed into an Aviation Museum that houses several aircraft, engines, special exhibits, and educational interactive displays. The museum invites visitors to explore – and enjoy – New Jersey’s aviation, military, and WWII history through “hands-on,” fun and educational activities for the entire family.
Historic Cold Spring Village
Historic Cold Spring Village is a fun museum to visit, especially in the summer. It’s an interactive living museum that looks back at the life of villagers living in Southern New Jersey during the “age of homespun.” Through hands-on and interactive activities, visitors will be able to better understand our connection between the past and present of how the Cape May community has changed over the years.
The Colonial House Museum
The Colonial House is open to the public at no charge from June 15th to September 15. Located in downtown Cape May, visitors enjoy a living-history museum that showcases the original home of Revolutionary War patriot Memucan Hughes. The home is thought to be one of the oldest surviving structures on Cape Island, making it a true treat to visit.
World War II Lookout Tower
Fire Control Tower No. 23 is New Jersey’s last remaining restorable World War II tower, part of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles. Built in 1942, the tower was one of 15 towers that helped aim batteries of coastal artillery. Located in Cape May State Park, the tower was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the national Register in 2003.