Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred in Rehoboth Beach in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Poodle Beach
Since the 1930s, Rehoboth Beach has drawn LGBTQ residents and visitors seeking a sense of community and refuge. South of the Boardwalk, this beach provided a space away from the main crowds, where LGBTQ people could gather openly and safely. The area just south of here, near the old Carpenter Mansion, was popular for decades, but this section gained popularity in the late 1970s and came to be known as "Poodle Beach," although the origin of the name is unclear. From 1988 to 2019, it hosted the annual Labor Day Drag Volleyball Game, drwaing thousands. Today, Poodle Beach remains a well-known LGBTQ destination.
Erected 2026 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number SC-289.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1988.
Location. 38° 42.465′ N, 75° 4.509′ W. Marker is in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred. It is at the intersection of South
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Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of Lake Comegys and Silver Lake (approx. 0.3 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Funland (approx. half a mile away); City of Rehoboth Beach (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Bandstand (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Surf Safety Line (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rehoboth Beach Patrol (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 29, 2026
2. Poodle Beach Marker at the Unveiling Ceremony
Another marker is no longer nearby. Ocean Facts (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Additional commentary.
1. About the Poodle Beach Marker
This is the first historical marker erected by Delaware Public Archives about LGBTQ+ histories.
— Submitted October 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Additional keywords. LGBT, 🏳️🌈
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 29 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
