Brenda Ann

Coastal Watercolor Artist
Inspired by the Jersey Shore & Key West

The Virginia Hotel in Cape May: A Historic Landmark by the Sea

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The Virginia Hotel in Cape May: A Historic Landmark by the Sea

Cape May is filled with beautiful Victorian architecture, but few places capture the town’s elegant seaside character quite like The Virginia Hotel.

Located on Jackson Street in the heart of Cape May, The Virginia dates to 1879 and has long been part of the town’s history as a coastal resort destination. Originally known as The Ebbitt House, the property was renamed The Virginia Hotel in the 1890s and became a popular destination for visitors from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Cape Resorts

Today, The Virginia is a restored boutique hotel known for its intimate scale, classic architecture, front porch, guest rooms, cottages, and The Ebbitt Room restaurant. It remains one of Cape May’s most recognizable historic properties. Cape Resorts

A Beautiful Example of Historic Cape May

One of the things that makes Cape May so special is the way its architecture becomes part of the experience of visiting.

The Virginia fits beautifully into the streetscape of Jackson Street, surrounded by other historic homes and buildings that give Cape May its distinctive character. The hotel’s restoration began after Cape Resorts acquired the property in 1986, and it reopened in 1989 after extensive renovations. Cape Resorts

For an artist, buildings like The Virginia offer so much visual inspiration: architectural detail, strong color, historic character, porches, landscaping, and that unmistakable Cape May atmosphere.

Weddings at The Virginia Hotel

The Virginia is also known as an intimate Cape May wedding venue.

Couples can celebrate indoors in The Ebbitt Room or outdoors on the hotel’s garden patio, creating a romantic setting for smaller weddings and celebrations. The property combines historic architecture with modern hospitality and is just a short walk from the beach. Cape Resorts

That combination of history, elegance, and coastal setting makes it especially memorable for couples who want a wedding that feels distinctly Cape May.

Painting The Virginia Hotel

I love painting places that hold memories for people, and The Virginia Hotel is exactly that kind of subject.

Whether someone stayed there on vacation, celebrated a wedding in Cape May, enjoyed dinner at The Ebbitt Room, or simply remembers walking past the hotel on Jackson Street, these places become part of personal stories.

I created a watercolor of The Virginia Hotel as part of my ongoing collection of Cape May and Jersey Shore artwork.

You can see the painting here:

Shop The Virginia Hotel Cape May Watercolor Print

The print is a beautiful choice for Cape May lovers, wedding gifts, vacation memories, beach homes, or anyone who appreciates historic coastal architecture.

Cape May Through Watercolor

The Virginia Hotel is just one of many Cape May landmarks that continue to inspire my work.

From historic hotels and restaurants to beaches, inns, and familiar streets, I enjoy painting the places that make the Jersey Shore meaningful to the people who visit year after year.

For me, watercolor is a way to preserve those memories—not just how a place looks, but how it feels to be there.