Kitts Hummock & East Dover Hundred in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Kitts Hummock
Photographed by Nate Davidson, July 17, 2008
1. Kitts Hummock Marker
Inscription.
Kitts Hummock. . Like the Native Americans before them, European settlers used this rising ground or "hummock" on the shore of the Delaware Bay as a place for fishing and recreation. In 1738, Jehu Curtis received a patent for lands that he called "Kitt's Hammock." By the early 1800s, the Pleasanton family had established a tavern here for the entertainment of visitors. Around 1846, a hotel was built nearby. Known for a time as the Bay View Hotel, it was long the center of local activities. In the latter decades of the 19th century, a number of small cottages were erected here. Many were owned by residents of Dover who left the sweltering heat of summer behind for the cooling effects of the waters and bay breezes. Kitts Hummock continues to provide a peaceful refuge for residents and visitors alike.
Like the Native Americans before them, European settlers used this rising ground or "hummock" on the shore of the Delaware Bay as a place for fishing and recreation. In 1738, Jehu Curtis received a patent for lands that he called "Kitt's Hammock." By the early 1800s, the Pleasanton family had established a tavern here for the entertainment of visitors. Around 1846, a hotel was built nearby. Known for a time as the Bay View Hotel, it was long the center of local activities. In the latter decades of the 19th century, a number of small cottages were erected here. Many were owned by residents of Dover who left the sweltering heat of summer behind for the cooling effects of the waters and bay breezes. Kitts Hummock continues to provide a peaceful refuge for residents and visitors alike.
Erected 2003 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number KC-80.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1738.
Location. 39° 6.156′ N, 75° 24.133′ W. Marker is near
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Dover, Delaware, in Kent County. It is in Kitts Hummock & East Dover Hundred. It is at the intersection of South Bay Drive and Kitts Hummock Road on South Bay Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3076 Kitts Hummock Rd, Dover DE 19901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2011, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,043 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2011, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
