Preserving the Wildwoods:  A Community Alliance is a nonprofit whose mission is to advocate for the preservation and recognition of the historical, cultural and community heritage of the Wildwoods.  One of our first project was to produce a “Historic Architectural Styles of the Wildwoods” coloring book.  It features drawings of the Wildwoods’ historic houses and typical structures from John J. Olivieri’s Historic Architectural Planning Study prepared for the city of Wildwood in 1995.  The island’s architecture includes a large range of styles that showcase the diversity of its residents, shifts in taste, advances in building material and technological and development patterns.

The architectural tapestry of the Wildwoods is rich and varied.  Housing styles provide a window into the culture during any given time period.  The design and structural elements that give a home character reflect local culture and geographic and economic forces.  Often architectural styles build on one another, with each past period providing the building blocks for the next generation.  Understanding these architectural styles and their structural elements provides a dynamic illustration of the history of the Wildwoods and enhances our appreciation of and commitment to preservation.

Copies of the coloring book are available for $5 at the Wildwood Historical Society (3907 Pacific Ave.) and the Doo Wop Museum (Ocean between Burk & Montgomery) or for a $10 or more donation to Preserving the Wildwoods, we will mail one to you as a thank you for supporting our work.  To donate or for more information about Preserving the Wildwoods:  A Community Alliance, visit our website www.preservingthewildwoods.com.