Lunch & Learn

 Golf began as an elitist and male dominated sport, though women have figured in the sport from its earliest days. Mary, Queen of Scots, who ruled Scotland from 1542 to 1567, has been noted by some as the first woman to play golf, and gets credit for coining the term caddie. Mary Stewart looks at the evolution of the sport that Mark Twain called “a good walk spoiled.”

 Learn about the life and legacy of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, highlighting his political career, personal life, and pivotal moments in history. Ben Ridings will also delve into a lesser-known aspect of his life: the summers he spent at Cape May Point.

 Exciting discoveries in classical music have emerged in the past year, including previously unknown works by Chopin and Mozart. Join Dr. Brenda Leonard as she delves into the fascinating stories of how these pieces were lost, rediscovered, and why their recovery matters today.

Since colonial times, the Cape May area has been vital in the defense of the Atlantic coast. NAS Wildwood was once a key player in that responsibility and still serves as a cultural and historic attraction. Join Bill Boorse for a discussion of the history of this landmark and its current role in the greater Cape May community.

Language is the carrier of culture. The quickest way to kill a culture is to remove its language. Join ClanMother of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania Teri Hislop, as she shares how the Lenape Nation is reclaiming the Southern Unami dialect, the original language of South Jersey and Delaware.

Cape May County began the 19th century almost unpopulated, lagging behind every other county in transportation, investment, and development. Suddenly, it blossomed into a vacation destination, with the world’s largest hotel and celebrity visitors. Elan Zingman-Leith explores how that happened. 

On the Shellpile is a moving documentary which captures the story of the vibrant African American community that once powered South Jersey’s oyster industry. Produced by the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, the film explores themes of resilience, family, and cultural heritage through the voices of those who lived it. Following the screening, Rachel Dolhanczyk, co-producer and curator at the Bayshore Center, will lead a discussion and answer questions.

During World War II, approximately 20,000 dogs served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard as part of the Dogs for Defense program. Ben Ridings explores the program’s origins, the rigorous training these heroic canines underwent, and their remarkable contributions both on the home front and in the European and Pacific Theaters.

See how railroad lines in Cape May underwent many changes from the beginning of the Railroad Era through its decline.  Paul Mulligan, published local railroad historian, with the use of maps will take us on the story of railroads in Cape May. He will show the diversity of trains that served Cape May: mainline, trolley, industrial, and military.