Polar bears prepare to plunge in 1999

The Lewes Polar Bear Plunge has become one of the largest fundraising events in Delaware over the last few decades. Beginning with a small group at Cape Henlopen State Park, the plunge moved to Rehoboth Beach in 1998, and it has continued there every year since. The event has raised at least $1 million for Special Olympics Delaware in each of the last three years. This year’s event will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2. The move to Rehoboth Beach in 1998 was necessitated by a nor’easter that left the state park unusable. These photographs are from the 1999 plunge, the first dip truly planned for Rehoboth Beach. As most know, this crowd is modest compared to the thousands of people who will descend on Rehoboth Beach this weekend. The beach is also noticeably smaller without a dune running along the Boardwalk.