The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, Cape May, NJ, is set to host the traveling exhibit “Camp Boardwalk: Atlantic City During World War II” beginning May 1, where it will remain on display through Labor Day (September 7th, 2026). The museum is based in Hangar 1 at Cape May Airport, a site that once operated as a WWII dive-bomber training base. It now serves as a memorial to the 42 aviators who lost their lives there between 1943 and 1945.
The exhibit was previously shown at Stockton University’s Noyes Arts Garage in Atlantic City and looks at a lesser-known period when the city was taken over for military use during WWII. From 1942 to 1945, hotels were turned into barracks, ballrooms were used for drills, and Boardwalk Hall became part of the training setup. It was put together by Dr. Patricia Chappine of Stockton University with support from several regional organizations, including the Atlantic City Free Public Library, the Millville Army Air Field Museum, the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center, the Atlantic County Historical Society, and the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey. The material on display includes archived records, personal accounts, and oral histories from people who were part of that period.
The exhibit also looks at life away from the front lines, focusing on how local residents supported the war effort. That includes Civilian Defense work, volunteering with groups like the USO and Red Cross, and jobs tied to wartime production. It also highlights the role played by African American service members and workers in the region. At Wildwood, the exhibit will be housed inside Hangar 1, which was itself used as a dive-bomber training site during the war. “Camp Boardwalk” will be open to visitors through September 7 and is also expected to be part of the museum’s AirFest 2026 weekend. For more information and to support the National Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, click on this link: usnasw.org.
