Presidents Day program on George Washington’s 110 rules of civility at The Old State House on Feb. 17, 2019
In honor of Presidents Day and George Washington’s birthday, The Old State House, located at 25 The Green in Dover, Del., will present “Civility Ascendant: Celebrating George Washington’s Rules for Civil Behavior and Their Legacy for American Politics,” a presentation by Dr. Samuel B. Hoff, George Washington Distinguished Professor of History and Political Science and Law Studies Program Director at Delaware State University.
The program will take place on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public but, due to space restrictions, reservations are suggested by calling the museum at 302-744-5054. Should the event be postponed due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled to Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m., also at the Old State House.
As part of the program, Hoff will provide an overview of Washington’s 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior and discuss how they were practiced by subsequent American presidents together with their relevance to contemporary American politics. The program will conclude with reflections on Washington by historic-site interpreter Tom Welch, followed by a reception and display of presidential memorabilia.
“Civility Ascendant: Celebrating George Washington’s Rules for Civil Behavior and Their Legacy for American Politics” is sponsored by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati and Delaware State University’s Law Studies Program.
Completed in 1791, The Old State House is one of the earliest state-house buildings in the United States, serving as the home of Delaware’s legislature until 1933 when the General Assembly moved to larger quarters in Legislative Hall. The venerable structure now appears as it would have in the late 1700s during the United States’ critical early years as a nation. It features a courtroom, governor’s and county offices and chambers for the state’s Senate and House of Representatives. The building is situated on Dover’s historic Green, a public area designated by William Penn in 1683. The Old State House is administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. The Green is a partner site of the First State National Historical Park.
