Like the Native Americans before them, European settlers used this rising ground on the shore of the Delaware Bay for fishing and recreation. In 1738, Jehu Curtis received a patent for lands 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, and for a time, as the Bay View Hotel, it was the center of local activities. In the latter decades of the 19th century, a number of small cottages were erected here, many owned by residents of Dover who escaped the sweltering summer heat for the cooling waters and bay breezes. Kitts Hummock continues to provide a peaceful refuge for residents and visitors alike.