Rehoboth Beach Delaware Breakwater 1906 Real Photo Postcard

The Delaware Breakwater, a monumental 19th-century civil engineering project, was constructed to create a sheltered harbor of refuge in Delaware Bay. Initiated by the U.S. federal government in 1828 and largely completed by 1869, it involved the strategic placement of massive quantities of stone to form a protective barrier against ocean waves and currents. This structure was crucial for safeguarding vessels navigating the treacherous waters at the mouth of the Delaware River, a vital artery for commerce to and from Philadelphia.