Editing Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (section)

===21st century===
[[Avery's Rest Site]], [[Dodd Homestead]], [[Peter Marsh House]], [[Thompson's Loss and Gain Site]], [[Thompsons Island Site]], [[Warrington Site]], and [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union Fountain]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], maintained by the [[National Park Service]] of the [[United States Department of the Interior]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

The town often bills itself as "The Nation's Summer Capital" because it is a frequent summer vacation destination for Washington, D.C., residents as well as visitors from [[Maryland]], [[Virginia]], and [[Pennsylvania]]. Vacationers are drawn for many reasons, including the town's charm and the absence of a [[sales tax]] in [[Delaware]]. The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is a {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} long wooden [[boardwalk (entertainment district)|boardwalk]] adjacent to the beach with restaurants, shops, amusements, and attractions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk|publisher=Visit DE Beaches|url=https://www.visitdebeaches.com/rehoboth-beach-boardwalk/|access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref> The Funland amusement park, which opened in 1962, is located along the boardwalk between Delaware and Brooklyn avenues.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.capegazette.com/affiliate-post/funland-rehoboth-beach-57-years-old-and-still-creating-treasured-memories-gene/180343|title=Funland in Rehoboth Beach is 57 Years Old and Still Creating Treasured Memories for Generations of Families|author=The Oldfather Group|date=May 9, 2019|newspaper=Cape Gazette|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref> Several restaurants and shops are located along the town's [[main street]], Rehoboth Avenue. Outside of Rehoboth Beach along [[Delaware Route 1]], are the [[Tanger Outlets]], which operate three locations along the highway with over 130 outlet stores.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Directory & Map|publisher=Tanger Outlets|url=https://www.tangeroutlet.com/rehoboth/directory|access-date=May 26, 2016}}</ref>

Due to its proximity to [[Washington, D.C.]], Rehoboth Beach is a popular summer destination among members of the [[United States Congress]]. [[Joe Biden]], the 46th [[President of the United States]], and [[First Lady of the United States]], [[Jill Biden]], have a beach house outside the corporate limits of Rehoboth Beach in the [[North Shores, Delaware|North Shores]] neighborhood.<ref name=wp112720>{{cite news|last1=Heim|first1=Joe|last2=Leonnig|first2=Carol D.|title=After Biden win, Rehoboth Beach celebrates local boy who made good: 'He's our Joe'|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 27, 2020|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/biden-rehoboth-beach/2020/11/27/904d0fee-2ea9-11eb-860d-f7999599cbc2_story.html|access-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref> This beach house serves as their "[[Summer White House]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Heller|first=Karen|title=Lovely, little Delaware – long famous for corporations, chickens and credit cards – is ready for its big moment|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 12, 2021|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/delaware-joe-biden-president/2021/01/11/18cceb4c-4ac4-11eb-a9f4-0e668b9772ba_story.html|access-date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>

Rehoboth Beach has a seasonal beach patrol who are in charge of lifeguarding the one and a half miles that make up the town's beachfront. They operate from Memorial Day weekend into the following fall season. The beach patrol is on duty every day between Memorial Day until Labor Day from 10&nbsp;am until 5&nbsp;pm on weekdays, and 10&nbsp;am until 5:30&nbsp;pm on weekends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rehobothbeachpatrol.com |title=Rehoboth Beach- Lifeguard Beach Patrol |publisher=Rehobothbeachpatrol.com |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

Rehoboth Beach is also known as one of the mid-Atlantic coast's popular [[LGBT]]-friendly getaways. LGBT tourists have been visiting and residing in the town for generations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Faye |date=2020 |title=A Wild Part of Our Gay History Is Gone |url=https://www.camprehoboth.com/letters/2020/august-14-2020-camp-out-fay-jacobs |website=Letters From CAMP Rehoboth}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Barnett |first=Rich |title=978-0984999408 |publisher=GoGap |year=2012 |isbn=978-0984999408}}</ref> However, the movement toward becoming gay-friendly began with the town's culinary Renaissance in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas Jr. |first=Robert |date=May 31, 1987 |title=A Delaware Beach with a Double Allure |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/travel/a-delaware-beach-with-a-double-allure.html |work=The New York Times |pages=Sec.10, 9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sears |first=James |date=2020 |title=A Line Drawn in the Sand |url=https://www.camprehoboth.com/letters/1997/september-25th-2020-camp-rehoboth-history-project-james-t-sears-phd |archive-date= |website=Letters From CAMP Rehoboth}}</ref> The visible presence of more LGBT people during this era and the resulting community backlash coincided with the national AIDS crisis and the Moral Majority.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sears |first=James |title=Queering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalk |publisher=Temple University Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1439923801 |location=Philadelphia |pages=127–177}}</ref> During the 1990s, a coterie of gay and lesbian activists challenged the town's anti-gay policies and sentiments to '''C'''reate '''A''' '''M'''ore '''P'''ositive Rehoboth ([https://www.camprehoboth.com CAMP]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sears |first=James |title=Queering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalk |date=2024 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=978-1439923801 |pages=178–184}}</ref> Through this organization's efforts as well as that other groups, two openly gay town commissioners the following decade and the town's position on LBGT issues changed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aguirre |first=Mark |date=2003 |title=Rehoboth Beach Commissioners Go On Record Against Discrimination |url=https://www.camprehoboth.com/letters/2003/june-13-2003-rb-commissioners |website=Letters from CAMP Rehoboth}}</ref> Today, there are a large number of LGBT-owned and operated businesses; LGBT people are well-represented in town governance. Summer activities include going to the LGBT-frequented stretch of beach near Queen Street at the south end of the boardwalk, known as Poodle Beach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rehoboth Beach: What to See and Do – Queer Lesbian Gay Travel – Gay.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=http://www.gay.com/travel/premium/?sernum=291 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206152614/http://www.gay.com/travel/premium/?sernum=291 |archivedate=February 6, 2005}}</ref><ref>Katy Rice, 'Across the Pond', in ''Sussex Society'', September 2011, p. 29</ref> Poodle Beach tends to attract [[gay men]] while [[North Shores, Delaware|North Shore Beach]] within [[Cape Henlopen State Park]] tends to attract [[lesbian]]s.<ref>{{Cite book| last=Wurman | first=Richard Saul | year=2007 | title=Access Washington, D.C., Tenth Edition | publisher=[[HarperCollins]] | page=223 | isbn= 9780061230806 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LcmsomW9B6EC | access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref>

The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand is located on Rehoboth Avenue near the boardwalk and serves as a free open-air music and entertainment venue in the summer months, with performances from over 50 bands during the season. Performances have been held at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand since 1963.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bandstand|publisher=City of Rehoboth Beach|url=https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/visitors/bandstand|access-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref>

''[[Reader's Digest]]'' named the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk as "Best of America" and featured it in the May 2006 issue. Additionally, [[AARP]] has named Rehoboth Beach as one of five dream towns as "Best Places to Retire".<ref>Sarah Mahoney. [http://www.retirementindelaware.com/pdf/AARPDreamTowns.pdf Dream Towns]. August 8, 2006. AARP.</ref>

The town has several festivals including the Sea Witch Festival, the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rehobothfilm.com|title=Rehoboth Beach Film Society » Welcome|website=www.rehobothfilm.com}}</ref> and the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rehobothjazz.com|title=Welcome – Rehoboth Jazz Festival|website=www.rehobothjazz.com}}</ref> every year.

The Clear Space Theatre Company, a professional theater company, offers a year-round schedule of musical and dramatic productions in the Rehoboth Theatre of the Arts.

[[Dogfish Head Brewery]]'s original brewpub is located on the town's main strip Rehoboth Avenue. The location has grown in years as a popular destination for American [[craft beer]] enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1188 |title=Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Beers |publisher=BeerAdvocate |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> [[Grotto Pizza]] was founded in Rehoboth Beach in 1960 and has grown to 23 locations throughout the state of Delaware along with parts of [[Maryland]] and [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name=history>{{cite web|title=History|publisher=Grotto Pizza|url=http://www.grottopizza.com/history/|access-date=June 14, 2015}}</ref> 

The restaurant scene in Rehoboth Beach was traditionally centered in the downtown area, which remains competitive. In the 21st century, a restaurant scene has begun to develop along the Delaware Route 1 corridor, where parking is more available and accessible.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/jakes-closes-downtown-rehoboth/147055|title=Jakes closes in downtown Rehoboth |last=Mavity|first=Ryan|date=December 1, 2017|newspaper=Cape Gazette|access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref>

In 2011, the city passed a [[smoking ban]] covering parks and playgrounds, but sparing the beach and boardwalk.<ref>{{cite news
 |title=Delaware cities: Smoking still legal on Rehoboth Beach |author=Molly Murray
 |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110416/NEWS02/104160354/-1/NLETTER01/Smoking-still-legal-on-Rehoboth-Beach
 |newspaper=The News Journal |publisher=Gannett |date=April 16, 2011 |at=DelawareOnline |access-date=April 16, 2011 }}</ref> The smoking ban was extended to the beach, boardwalk, and adjacent public areas in 2014. In 2017, the city implemented a ban on tents, canopies, and large umbrellas on the beach, the first such ban in Delaware.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hughes|first1=Gray|last2=Ferrar|first2=Doug|last3=Neiburg|first3=Jeff|title=With tourists incoming, some throw shade at Rehoboth over beach tent rule|work=The Daily Times|location=Salisbury, MD|date=May 25, 2017|url=http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2017/05/25/summer-comes/328281001/|access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref>