Cape May Court House: Wildlife, Museum and History

Cape May Court House brings together wildlife viewing and local history in one destination. When choosing a hotel, it helps to distinguish between the highlights: Cape May County Zoo focuses on animal species and viewing, Cape May County Museum on historic rooms and collection objects, while the Old Court House Building adds a building that is still used for special sessions. This way, you can plan your stay around the interests that matter most for your trip.

Local Setting and Wildlife

The headquarters of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is located at 24 Kimbles Beach Road in Cape May Court House. This precise street address places the headquarters in the town and adds another specific point of reference to the zoo and cultural attractions.

Cape May County Zoo is located on Route 9 in Cape May Court House and covers 22 acres. It is also home to more than 250 animal species; this number may change over time. The acreage and species count describe different aspects: the size of the zoo and the range of wildlife represented there. This gives the zoo a different focus from the museum’s historic rooms and collections.

In the Savannah area, a wooden walkway provides a place to view giraffes, zebras and camels. This area offers a specific wildlife-viewing focus within the zoo. Since exhibit areas can change, it is a good idea to check current visitor information when planning a particular visit.

Museum and Historic Rooms

Cape May County Museum is located in the John Holmes House, which dates to around 1755 and is one of the oldest buildings in Cape May County. In historic rooms, the museum displays furnishings, costumes, tools, and decorative and practical objects from the 17th through the 20th century. This brings together two historical timeframes: a house dating to around 1755 and a collection spanning several centuries. The combination of historic rooms and the objects displayed in them offers a tangible way to explore local history without limiting attention to a single era.

The museum offers programs and tours of the historic Cresse-Holmes House property. These formats complement the collection objects with a guided tour of a historic property. For planning purposes, this provides a distinct way to explore heritage alongside the historic rooms and exhibits in the John Holmes House.

A Historic Building Still in Use

The Old Court House Building in Cape May Court House was completed in 1850 and is still used today for special sessions. This brings a historic date and continued use together.

The historic attractions also differ in their time perspectives: the museum’s objects range from the 17th through the 20th century, while the Old Court House is defined by its completion in 1850 and its present-day use. If you are interested in history, you can distinguish between a collection spanning several centuries and the continued use of a historic building.

For the broader travel overview: Middle Township.