Cape May MAC Traces a ‘Chain of Rebels’ Through American Architecture

Issue #792

August 29, 2026

In partnership with

Made In makes the cookware the world's best kitchens actually cook on. Our stainless, carbon steel, and forged knives are trusted in Michelin-starred restaurants and loved by millions of home cooks, built by master craftspeople using techniques honed over generations. No gimmicks. Just professional-grade tools that perform and last a lifetime.

Right now, that same cookware is at its lowest prices of the year. The End of Season Sale is live with up to 40% off, from the pans you reach for every night to full sets that outfit a kitchen in one move. It's the best time all season to trade up.

The cookware chefs choose, at the price home cooks have been waiting for.

 

In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

 🚢Cape May MAC Traces a ‘Chain of Rebels’ Through American Architecture

🚂Cape May Railbikes Bring New Life to Historic Railroad Tracks 

🏖️ From First Seaside Resort to Historic Landmark: Cape May Celebrates Its Story 

We have until September 4th for Cape May to be featured in a Hallmark Christmas Movie

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 August 29

Have an Upcoming Event?

1,000,000 Men Use This. You Probably Know One.

Most men don't think about their skin until eye bags, dark spots, and wrinkles show up at once. Particle Face Cream is a groundbreaking men's formula that fights all three, while also restoring firmness and hydrating deeply. No complicated routine. Trusted by over a million men. 30-day money-back guarantee. 20% off with code BH20.

 Cape May MAC Traces a ‘Chain of Rebels’ Through American Architecture

Three architects who helped redefine American architecture and the mentorship that connected them will be the focus of an upcoming Cape May MAC Lunch & Learn program. Cape May MAC Director Emeritus Michael Zuckerman will present “A Chain of Rebels: Frank Furness → Louis Sullivan → Frank Lloyd Wright” on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at noon at Cape May Lutheran Church Hall.

The program will explore the architectural lineage linking Frank Furness, Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, three influential designers whose work challenged prevailing European architectural traditions and helped establish distinctly American approaches to building design.

The story has particular significance in Cape May because Furness designed the Emlen Physick Estate, the landmark Victorian house that has been central to generations of Cape May MAC tours.

Furness, a Philadelphia architect known for unconventional and muscular designs, rejected many of the classical conventions popular during his era. His buildings frequently incorporated industrial materials, dramatic structural elements and highly stylized interpretations of Gothic architecture.

Among the young architects who spent time working in Furness's office was Louis Sullivan. Sullivan later emerged as an important figure in the development of the modern skyscraper and became closely associated with the principle that a building's design should reflect its function.

That architectural lineage continued through Frank Lloyd Wright, who worked under Sullivan and regarded him as an important mentor. Wright went on to develop his own approach to organic architecture, including the Prairie School style and later Usonian houses.

The program will  trace ideas that carried from one generation to the next. Furness incorporated stylized natural and botanical elements into his work, Sullivan developed elaborate organic ornamentation, and Wright transformed natural forms into increasingly abstract and geometric patterns.

Together, Furness, Sullivan and Wright represent a remarkable progression in American architecture: a Philadelphia rebel influencing a future pioneer of the skyscraper, who in turn mentored one of the nation's most celebrated architects.

“A Chain of Rebels” will be presented by Cape May MAC Director Emeritus Michael Zuckerman at noon Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Cape May Lutheran Church Hall.

Cape May Railbikes Bring New Life to Historic Railroad Tracks

Revolution Rail Co. has turned a historic Cape May railroad corridor into a pedal-powered sightseeing experience, offering visitors a new way to explore the area’s wetlands, wildlife and transportation history. The guided railbike excursion covers about four miles round trip and lasts roughly 90 minutes, departing from behind the Cape May Welcome Center on Lafayette Street and traveling toward the Cape May Canal.

Riders use custom-built two- or four-seat railbikes that travel directly on the tracks. The route passes near The Nature Conservancy’s Garrett Family Preserve at Cape Island Creek, where passengers may see wildflowers, migratory birds, raptors, butterflies and coastal marsh scenery. At the turnaround point near the canal, guides rotate the bikes for the return trip while sharing information about Cape May and the railroad.

The tracks themselves are part of the experience. The Cape May Branch dates to 1863 and once played an important role in carrying passengers and freight to the Jersey Shore. The line later became part of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines before eventually falling under Conrail. Passenger service ended in 1981, and freight service followed in 1983.

Rail operations in the area were further disrupted in 2012 after thieves removed thousands of feet of railroad material near Dennisville, leaving train service between Rio Grande and Cape May City suspended. Years later, Cape May Seashore Lines partnered with Revolution Rail to bring recreational use back to part of the corridor, with railbike operations beginning in Cape May in 2020.

Today, the attraction blends outdoor recreation with local history, allowing visitors to travel along rails that have been part of Cape May’s transportation story for more than 160 years. Revolution Rail also offers a Twilight Tour featuring illuminated bikes, glowsticks and a stop with a fire pit and s’mores, adding an evening option to the experience.

From First Seaside Resort to Historic Landmark: Cape May Celebrates Its Story

Have you been to the Emlen Physick Estate lately? There always seems to be something new to discover, and this year visitors can take a deeper look at the history that makes Cape May unlike any other seaside community.

“Cape May — First and Only,” a special exhibit at the Carroll Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, celebrates two major milestones for the city during an already historic year.

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Cape May is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its incorporation as a city and the 50th anniversary of its designation as a National Historic Landmark.

The free exhibit, presented by Cape May MAC in partnership with the City of Cape May, explores the people, places and events that helped shape the community over generations.

Cape May was incorporated in 1851 and developed a reputation as America’s first seaside resort. Its collection of historic architecture and the preservation efforts that followed eventually helped earn the city National Historic Landmark status in 1976.

The exhibit looks beyond Cape May’s famous Victorian homes to explore a community that has evolved through wars, coastal storms and changing generations of residents and visitors. It also highlights the preservation efforts that helped protect the character that defines Cape May today.

The anniversaries offer an opportunity to look back at how Cape May grew from an early seaside destination into one of the country’s most distinctive historic resort communities.

“Cape May — First and Only” is located inside the Carroll Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Admission is free, and the exhibit is open daily during regular site operating hours through Nov. 2.

For locals who have not stopped by the Physick Estate lately — or visitors looking for something beyond a day at the beach — the exhibit offers another reason to explore Cape May and discover more about the history behind one of the Jersey Shore’s most recognizable communities.

Which notable pirate is rumored to have buried treasure in Cape May, New Jersey?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

 Answer to the August 28th Trivia Question 

What unique feature did the Mount Vernon Hotel in Cape May boast in its dining area during the 1850s?​

A) A rotating floor
B) A glass ceiling
C) Over 40 gas-burning chandeliers
D) A built-in orchestra pit​

Answer: C) Over 40 gas-burning chandeliers

The Mount Vernon Hotel, constructed in 1852, featured a dining hall illuminated by more than 40 gas-burning chandeliers—a remarkable luxury for the era. This opulent lighting was part of the hotel's advanced infrastructure, which also included gas lighting produced on-site and an extensive network of 125 miles of gas and water pipes. These features underscored the hotel's ambition to offer unparalleled comfort and modernity to its guests.

How Did We Do In This Issue?

Cape May Local Scoop Wants To Know Your Thoughts About Our Newsletter...

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.