Click the following to read the text from the De Vries Monument interpretive panel.

In preparation for the 2010 Census, the Unites States Census Bureau requested that the State of Delaware identify state-recognized American Indian tribes for which State Designated Tribal Statistical Areas (SDTSA) could be delineated. A SDTSA is a geographical area that contains a concentration of people who identify with a state-recognized tribe. State recognition of a tribe and identification of SDTSAs makes it possible for tribal members to be eligible for certain types of federal education, health, and housing assistance. In the previous census which occurred in 2000, the Nanticoke Indian tribal community, centered in and around Oak Orchard in Sussex County, had been the only delineated SDTSA in Delaware.

In addition to working with the Nanticoke Indian Tribe to help revise and update its SDTSA, Davis compiled information that supported the State of Delaware's request that the Census Bureau include the area in and around Cheswold, Kent County, as a SDTSA for the 2010 Census. This area is the home of the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware, a community whose ancestors were among the first inhabitants of what is now Delaware.

Davis played a critical role in helping to affirm the state's recognition of both of Delaware's Native American tribes. Her work involved meeting with representatives of each of the tribes, and in reviewing applicable state laws, historical and anthropological references, and previous actions of the state legislature and state agencies—key factors in considering state recognition of tribes.

Davis has been recognized for her efforts by the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Office, and by Chief Dennis Coker of the Lenape Indian Tribe and Chief Larry Jackson of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe.

The "International Musical Celebration" program is presented in conjunction with "First Saturday in the First State," a monthly series of events sponsored by the First State Heritage Park at Dover. Admission for all programs is free and open to the public. For additional information, call the First State Heritage Park Visitor Center at (302) 744-5055.

The Johnson Victrola Museum, located at 375 S. New St., between North St. and Bank Lane, in Dover, Delaware, highlights the life and achievements of Delaware's native son, Eldridge Reeves Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Through phonographs, memorabilia, trademarks, objects, and paintings, the museum showcases Johnson, his company, and the development of the sound-recording industry.

Dutch-American Heritage Day activities will include:

• A spotlight on important Dutch-Americans
• A display of Dutch products
• A discussion of Dutch contributions to the United States
• An exploration of Delaware's Dutch connection
• Family craft activities including origami tulips and windmills
• A Dutch trivia quiz
• A roundtable discussion at 11 a.m. in which Dutch-American visitors can discuss their ethnic heritage

Dutch-American Heritage Day commemorates November 16, 1776, the day when the American warship Andrew Doria sailed into the harbor of the Dutch island of St. Eustatius in the West Indies. Only 4 months before, the United States had declared its independence from Great Britain. The American crew was delighted when the governor of the island, Johannes de Graaf, ordered that his fort's cannons be fired in a friendly salute. This salute, the first ever given by a foreign power to the flag of the United States, was a risky and courageous act. The British, angered by Dutch trading and contraband with the rebellious colonies, seized St. Eustatius a few years later. De Graaf's welcoming salute was a sign of respect that continues to symbolize the deep ties of friendship that exist between the United States and the Netherlands.

The Zwaanendael Museum was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the state's first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch along Hoorn Kill (present-day Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) in 1631. Designed by E. William Martin (architect of Legislative Hall and the Hall of Records in Dover), the museum is modeled after the town hall in Hoorn, the Netherlands, and features a stepped facade gable with carved stonework and decorated shutters.

The museum's exhibits and presentations provide a showcase for Lewes-area maritime, military, and social history. In addition to the Dutch-American Heritage Day program, the museum is currently featuring the exhibit, "Maritime History on the Delaware," which showcases over 11,000 years of Lewes history and culture supported by an array of artifacts, maps, sketches, lithographs, and photographs; and "Rediscovery Through Recovery," which displays artifacts from the wreck of a British merchant ship that sank off Lewes' Roosevelt Inlet in the late 18th century.

In addition, there are a number of upcoming special events taking place at the museum through the end of the year. Admission for all events is free. For more information, call 302-645-1148.

Located at 340 Kitts Hummock Road in Dover, Delaware, the plantation is the boyhood home and country estate of John Dickinson, one of the founding fathers of the United States and "Penman of the Revolution." The plantation is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and appreciated. For additional information, please call (302) 739-3277.