WWII Lookout Tower Opens for Tourists
By Angela Serratore | Online Only | May 21, 2009
Only three lookout towers remain on the New Jersey coastline.
Credit: Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts
Last weekend, early tourists in the beach town of Cape May, N.J., were able to enjoy the view from a lookout tower built during World War II.
"Visitors can experience what it may have been like to watch out for enemies without satellites, global positioning systems, and Google Earth maps," says Chris Donnelly, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
Built in 1942, 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. It was one of 15 towers that helped aim batteries of coastal artillery, stretching from North Wildwood, N.J., to Bethany Beach, Del. Four were located in Cape May County, but the towers in North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest were torn down; a third tower still exists inside Cape May's Grand Hotel. Tower No. 23, on land now part of the Cape May Point State Park, was listed on the state register of historic places on May 29, 2003 and on the National Register on Nov. 17, 2003.
During the $1.3 million restoration—most of which was provided by the New Jersey Historic Trust, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs—workers restored the tower's exterior, installed spiral staircases to make the interior accessible to visitors, and improved the surrounding beach site.
About 375 people, including about a dozen veterans, attended the May 16 grand opening, according to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, which organized the event.
Donnelly hopes that "restoration of the Lookout Tower will be a tangible reminder of the critical role New Jersey served in defending our nation in the mid-century."
Subscribe to the Today's News RSS feed
Comments
Submitted by veronic at: November 3, 2009
It's cool that they have opened this up. We should spend funds on opening more historical sites for people to get a feel of how things used to be. seychelle islands
Submitted by Anonymous at: October 24, 2009
Luckily for us, ed hardy clothing is one of the few labels that never go out of fashion. ed hardy Selling ed hardy men longsleeve,ed hardy swimsuit,ed hardy men swimsuit,ed hardy boot. ed hardy clothes ed hardy Newest ed hardy,ed hardy clothing,Shirts,Swimwear Commodity New styles have just arrived.Cheapest EDHardy Sale. ed hardy store ed hardy shoes best Ed Hardy UK Online Store. We provide customer with Large of high quality and low price Ed Hardy Clothing & better .
Submitted by millennity at: May 24, 2009
A great story!