National Harbor of Refuge and Delaware Breakwater Harbor Historic District
Encyclopedia
The National Harbor of Refuge and Delaware Breakwater Historic District encompasses a series of seacoast breakwater
s behind Cape Henlopen
, Delaware
that were built in a program to establish a shipping haven on a coastline that lacked safe harbors. The Harbor of Refuge is at the mouth of the Delaware Bay
estuary where it opens into the Atlantic Ocean
, at Lewes
. The district is almost entirely offshore, only touching land at the former U.S. Coast Guard station. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1989.
An 1822 study authorized by the United States Congress
investigated the possibility of a haven at Cape Henlopen, led by General Simon Bernard
, Major J.G. Totlen and Commodore William Bainbridge
. The committee recommended that a permanent harbor be created.
. The harbor was the first of its kind in the Western hemisphere
and the third in the world, after Cherbourg, France and the Plymouth Breakwater
at Plymouth, England. Work began in 1828 on what is now the inner breakwater, listed in its own right on the National Register as the Delaware Breakwater
. These works consisted of a 2100 feet (640.1 m) main breakwater and an ice breaker pier 1700 feet (518.2 m) long. Both elements were built of granite rubble from New Castle County, Delaware
, with earlier portions using smaller stones from the Hudson Palisades. The breakwaters are 160 feet (48.8 m) wide at the base and 20 feet (6.1 m) at the top. The project used 835,000 tons of stone in all. Strickland designed a lighthouse for the harbor, which was completed the next year. The harbor was a success, but it soon became apparent that it was too small. During storms as many as 200 ships would seek refuge. Shoaling was also a problem. In 1877 a hurricane destroyed several ships in the harbor, and others that could not get into the harbor. Seventy sailors perished in the Great Blizzard of 1888
. As a result, work began in 1883 to close the opening between the icebreaker and main breakwater, using the same stone as the original. This work was not completed until 1898. The Strickland lighthouse was rendered obsolete by this measure and was removed. The present Delaware Breakwater East End Light
was built in 1885 to replace it.
An iron pier was built beginning in 1871 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1882. The 1700 feet (518.2 m) pier was designed to carry rail traffic directly out to ships in the harbor. The structure used iron screw piles with wood decking. The pier was later adapted for use by the U.S. Lifesaving Station and the quarantine station. The iron pier shafts remain visible in the harbor, a hazard to navigation.
was built on this breakwater. Damaged in 1920 by storms, it effectively replaced the 1767 Cape Henlopen Light, which was abandoned in 1924 and fell into the sea in 1926.
columns. Shingle siding covers the station. An enclosed observation platform on the roof has a Chinese Chippendale railing, with adapted Palladian windows on all sides.
The Harbor of Refuge, along with Cape Henlopen, Fort Miles
and other Lewes area locations, would be included in the proposed Delaware National Coastal Heritage Park.
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
s behind Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen is the southern cape of the Delaware Bay along the Atlantic coast of the United States. It lies in the state of Delaware, near the town of Lewes, Delaware...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
that were built in a program to establish a shipping haven on a coastline that lacked safe harbors. The Harbor of Refuge is at the mouth of the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
estuary where it opens into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, at Lewes
Lewes, Delaware
Lewes is an incorporated city in Sussex County, Delaware, USA, on the Delmarva Peninsula. According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,747, a decrease of 6.3% from 2000....
. The district is almost entirely offshore, only touching land at the former U.S. Coast Guard station. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1989.
An 1822 study authorized by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
investigated the possibility of a haven at Cape Henlopen, led by General Simon Bernard
Simon Bernard
Baron Simon Bernard was a French general of engineers. Born in Dole, Simon Bernard was educated at the École polytechnique, graduating as second in the promotion of 1799 and entered the army in the corps of engineers....
, Major J.G. Totlen and Commodore William Bainbridge
William Bainbridge
William Bainbridge was a Commodore in the United States Navy, notable for his victory over HMS Java during the War of 1812.-Early life:...
. The committee recommended that a permanent harbor be created.
Delaware Breakwater
The project began in 1826, designed by William StricklandWilliam Strickland
William Strickland may refer to:* William Strickland , English clergyman* William Strickland , credited with introducing the turkey to England, later a Member of Parliament...
. The harbor was the first of its kind in the Western hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
and the third in the world, after Cherbourg, France and the Plymouth Breakwater
Plymouth Breakwater
Plymouth Breakwater is a stone breakwater protecting Plymouth Sound and the anchorages therein. It is wide at the top and the base is . It lies in about of water. Around 4 million tons of rock were used in its construction in 1812 at the then-colossal cost of £1.5 million .-History:In 1806, as...
at Plymouth, England. Work began in 1828 on what is now the inner breakwater, listed in its own right on the National Register as the Delaware Breakwater
Delaware Breakwater
The Delaware Breakwater is a set of breakwaters east of Lewes, Delaware on Cape Henlopen that form Lewes Harbor. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976.The original and breakwaters were built in 1828...
. These works consisted of a 2100 feet (640.1 m) main breakwater and an ice breaker pier 1700 feet (518.2 m) long. Both elements were built of granite rubble from New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, with earlier portions using smaller stones from the Hudson Palisades. The breakwaters are 160 feet (48.8 m) wide at the base and 20 feet (6.1 m) at the top. The project used 835,000 tons of stone in all. Strickland designed a lighthouse for the harbor, which was completed the next year. The harbor was a success, but it soon became apparent that it was too small. During storms as many as 200 ships would seek refuge. Shoaling was also a problem. In 1877 a hurricane destroyed several ships in the harbor, and others that could not get into the harbor. Seventy sailors perished in the Great Blizzard of 1888
Great Blizzard of 1888
The Great Blizzard of 1888 or Great Blizzard of '88 was one of the most severe blizzards in United States' recorded history. Snowfalls of 40-50 inches fell in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and sustained winds of over produced snowdrifts in excess of...
. As a result, work began in 1883 to close the opening between the icebreaker and main breakwater, using the same stone as the original. This work was not completed until 1898. The Strickland lighthouse was rendered obsolete by this measure and was removed. The present Delaware Breakwater East End Light
Delaware Breakwater East End Light
The Delaware Breakwater East End Light is a lighthouse located on the inner Delaware Breakwater in the Delaware Bay, just off the coast of Cape Henlopen and the town of Lewes, Delaware.-Construction and Early Use :...
was built in 1885 to replace it.
An iron pier was built beginning in 1871 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1882. The 1700 feet (518.2 m) pier was designed to carry rail traffic directly out to ships in the harbor. The structure used iron screw piles with wood decking. The pier was later adapted for use by the U.S. Lifesaving Station and the quarantine station. The iron pier shafts remain visible in the harbor, a hazard to navigation.
National Harbor of Refuge
In 1896 Congress authorized a new, larger program of breakwaters, the National Harbor of Refuge. Located 6500 feet (1,981.2 m) to the north of the original breakwater on a shoal known as The Shears, the new breakwater used much larger stone. The dressed and fitted masonry used individual pieces of up to 13 tons. The new breakwater was 8040 feet (2,450.6 m) long at low water and 40 feet (12.2 m) wide. Ten icebreaker piers were built 1250 feet (381 m) to the north of dressed stone in a 1300 feet (396.2 m) line. The project cost $2,090,765.82 and was completed in 1901. Compared with the earlier effort, steam-powered equipment allowed the use of larger stones and sped construction. The Harbor of Refuge LightHarbor of Refuge Light
The Harbor of Refuge Light is a lighthouse built on the ocean end of the outer Delaware Breakwater at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, just off Cape Henlopen...
was built on this breakwater. Damaged in 1920 by storms, it effectively replaced the 1767 Cape Henlopen Light, which was abandoned in 1924 and fell into the sea in 1926.
Coast Guard Station
The Lewes Coast Guard Station now functions as the Delaware River pilot's station. The station is a 2-1/2 story balloon-framed building, built in 1938 in Colonial Revival style. The principal facade faces the harbor with an enclosed porch supported by paired TuscanTuscan order
Among canon of classical orders of classical architecture, the Tuscan order's place is due to the influence of the Italian Sebastiano Serlio, who meticulously described the five orders including a "Tuscan order", "the solidest and least ornate", in his fourth book of Regole generalii di...
columns. Shingle siding covers the station. An enclosed observation platform on the roof has a Chinese Chippendale railing, with adapted Palladian windows on all sides.
The Harbor of Refuge, along with Cape Henlopen, Fort Miles
Fort Miles
Fort Miles was an American military installation located on Cape Henlopen near Lewes, Delaware. Although funds to build the fort were approved in 1934, it was 1941 before the fort was constructed. It was built to defend Delaware Bay and River and to protect domestic shipping from enemy fire within...
and other Lewes area locations, would be included in the proposed Delaware National Coastal Heritage Park.