New Jersey’s Forgotten Bunker – Wissahickon Bunker – Cape May
This Wissahickon Bunker is the only remaining bunker from Wissahickon Barracks (a Navy base built for World War I).
For this, I will not disclose the exact location but will say it is in Cape May near the NJ Parkway.
In its current state, it is constantly flooded on the inside. But, it was mostly clear of weeds and other overgrowth when we visited the site in 2019.
During WWI, Cape May bustled with activity. The Navy established a headquarters in 1917, later building the Wissahickon Barracks on farmland donated by Henry Ford and James Cuszens. This large training center housed about 6,000 Navy personnel and included the barracks, mess halls, chapels, and recreation fields. It even had a football team with standout players from top colleges.
However, after the war, the buildings were torn down—except for the concrete bunker. This find offers a rare glimpse into Cape May’s contributions during WWI, preserving an important piece of history that was nearly forgotten.
This concrete remnant that doesn’t go much further, may very well be an ammo bunker.
Not a lot of people know of its existence, furthermore, not a lot of people realize that there was a WWI Navy base near the NJ Parkway in Cape May.
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