History | Marquis de Lafayette | Cape May, New Jersey, NJ

History, Marquis de Lafayette, Historic Hotel, Cape May, New Jersey, NJ

The Historic Marquis de Lafayette Hotel
Our historic address — 501 Beach Avenue — is the site of the original Lafayette Hotel built in 1885 by Messrs. James and Steffner.

The original Lafayette Hotel suffered fire damage in the 1960s and was rebuilt to become the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel.

Of course, Cape May, New Jersey’s history stretches back even further, to the days when nearby Philadelphia was the capital of the colonial states and Cape May, NJ and its beaches were a popular retreat for many of the founding fathers.

This tradition continued into the modern age, with many presidential families vacationing in the Cape May area. Cape May enjoys the distinction of being America’s oldest seaside resort.

With all that lofty history, you might expect Cape May to be stuffy, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find exactly the opposite. Perhaps it’s the proximity to the beach that encourages the easy-going warmth of the locals, or the pride that comes from having your town designated a National Historic Landmark, but whatever the cause, you’ll fit right in strolling the streets, shops, and oceanfront of Cape May, New Jersey.