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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
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Thoughts on the Story Below...
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| “U.S. Senator Tom Carper’s effort to
create a Coastal Heritage Park within the State of Delaware is an
initiative that should be embraced and vigorously supported by all
maritime historic sites in the First State, as well as preservationists
and heritage tourism interests nationwide. The Senator’s |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse
Lewes, DE
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aspiration is just
the kind of visionary leadership that is desperately needed for the present
and future well being of Delaware’s lighthouses, parks, forts and other
unique coastal treasures.”
“The Coastal
Heritage Park will help foster a greater awareness for the preservation of
our precious coastal heritage, create countless new educational / cultural
opportunities for Delawareans and visitors alike through heritage tourism
and add a level of enhanced protection for an irreplaceable group of iconic
treasures through stronger public/private partnership opportunities. More
than ever, teamwork is key to saving and sharing the historic sites and
coastal resources we all hold so dear. Thanks to Senator Carper’s
leadership, Delawareans have a golden opportunity to “leave the light on”
for posterity’s pursuit of more quality communities and enriching
destinations.”
– Bob Trapani,
Jr., Executive Director
American Lighthouse Foundation
The following
news story appeared in the 9/23/05 – 9/26/05 edition of the Cape Gazette
newspaper, Lewes, Delaware, and has been reprinted by the American
Lighthouse Foundation with permission from the Cape Gazette
www.capegazette.com
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U.S. Senator Tom Carper asks to Create
National Park in Delaware
By Molly Albertson, Cape Gazette Staff
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Delaware is packed
with beaches and outdoor attractions, but it doesn’t have a national park –
not yet anyway. If Sen. Tom Carper gets his way, |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Delaware Breakwater
East End Light
Lewes, DE
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that will
change. He made a pitch Sept. 22 to the Senate’s National Park
Subcommittee to get the ball rolling for a national park in Delaware.
In 2003 Carper
established a National Parks Committee that consists of representatives
from around the state to decide what to include in the park. They
concluded the park should feature Delaware’s historic coastal heritage
dating back as far as prehistoric settlements of native peoples.
Rather than
ask for money to buy land, Carper proposes combining |
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city and state parks
and historic areas along the coast. The properties would not be purchased by
the federal government, but would continue to be owned and cared for by the
original owners. Unlike many national parks, the Delaware coastal heritage
park would not be one continuous stretch of land, but would bring many
attractions together from each county.
Four interpretive
hubs would be built in strategic areas to give historical context and to
direct visitors to existing attractions. Many |
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eras of
history and geographic regions would be linked together by the park.
In Sussex
County, Lewes historical sites would be included in addition to Fort
Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park, the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Oak
Orchard and the Indian River Lifesaving Station south |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Indian River Life-Saving Station
Rehoboth
Beach, DE
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of Dewey Beach.
The park would mean few changes in leadership and location for the
destinations, but they would be included in a National Park.
Being a national
park would also mean being listed on a National Park registry and possibly
bring new and different visitors. “It’s a very good idea and its high time
Delaware includes the first nation peoples like so many other states have
done,” said Nanticoke tribe spokeswoman Pecita Lonewolf. “It will be a good
opportunity to work together with other people in the state,” she said.
Lonewolf is also hopeful that the inclusion of the museum will help them to
reach long-standing future goals such as a living village.
Support has come
from Lewes Mayor Jim Ford since the inception of the idea. The proposal is
to build a hub in Lewes, “to provide information |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Overfalls Lightship
Lewes, DE
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on the
numerous historic sites and natural areas that have made Sussex County’s
coastal heritage so pivotal to Delaware,” said Carper.
Sites in Lewes
highlighted at the hub would be the Zwaanendael Museum and the
National Harbor of Refuge. Aids to navigation would include the
Fenwick Island Lighthouse, the Lightship Overfalls, the
Harbor of Refuge Light and the Breakwater Light.
“The concept
for it is very appropriate. We’re getting with |
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the program with
thinking and linking maritime heritage throughout the three counties,” said
Ford. The national park will bring new visitors to the area, he said, and
will reflect what the community is all about.
Three other hubs
will be in Kent and New Castle counties. Wilmington historic sites like Old
Swedes Church, Kalmar Nyckel and Tubman-Garrett Park could be one site. A
second possibility would be in |
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southern New
Castle County with attractions such as Fort Delaware and Fort DuPont. In
Kent County the park would include Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
and the John Dickinson Plantation, as well as fishing villages like
Leipsic, Little Creek and Bowers Beach.
Carper will be
seeking authorization and funding from Congress for a formal study
conducted by the National Park Service with aid from the State of
Delaware. He will then seek legislation to authorize and fund the park.
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Fenwick Island Lighthouse
Fenwick
Island, DE
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To learn more
about Senator Tom Carper’s Coastal Heritage Park proposal for a National
Park in the state of Delaware, visit
carper.senate.gov/
Senator
Carper’s Delaware National Coastal Heritage Park will make the “Diamonds” of
Delaware Shine (November 2004)...
www.delawarebaylights.org/drblhf_nationalpark_110504.htm
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