A December to remember!

The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and partnering organizations had a memorable holiday season in December 2019 with events at some of the most historic places in Delaware plus the Delaware Day Awards Ceremony—just to name a few! Following is a photographic chronicle of the festivities.

Zwaanendael Museum decorated by the Sussex Gardeners
Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes
Dec. 4–31, 2019
“Here We Go a Caroling” theme featured displays based on Christmas songs.

Photo of the Zwaanendael Museum decked out for the holidays by the Sussex Gardeners — Zwaanendael Museum decked out for the holidays by the Sussex Gardeners

Photo of the Snowman's Kit display at the Zwaanendael Museum — Snowman’s Kit display at the Zwaanendael Museum

Photo of a Sussex Gardeners display at the Zwaanendael Museum

Delaware Valley Archaeology and History Symposium
The Arsenal, 30 Market St., New Castle
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
Event featured presentations on the history and archaeology of the lower Delaware Valley.

Photo of participants attending the Delaware Valley Archaeology and History Symposium. — Participants attending the Delaware Valley Archaeology and History Symposium at the New Castle Historical Society’s headquarters in the Arsenal building in New Castle. Photo by Michael Connolly

Delaware Day awards ceremony
Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dover
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
Fourth grade students were honored for displays that they created that help to illustrate and explain the U.S. Constitution.

Detail from Bunker Hill Elementary School’s display which received the Gunning Bedford Jr. Award and an Artistic Merit Award.

Photo of Bunker Hill Elementary School students receiving their Delaware Day Competition award. — Bunker Hill Elementary School students receiving their Delaware Day Competition award. Photo by Ray Colletti

Photo of students and family members at the Delaware Day awards ceremony — Students and family members at the Delaware Day awards ceremony. Photo by Ray Colletti

Hale-Byrnes holiday open house
Hale-Byrnes House, 606 Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
Historic 1750 house decorated for the holidays

Photo of visitors enjoying displays during the Hale-Byrnes Holiday Open House. — Visitors enjoying displays during the Hale-Byrnes Holiday Open House.

Photo of Kevin O'Malley at Hale Byrnes 2019 Holiday Open House. — Kevin O’Malley at Hale-Byrnes 2019 Holiday Open House. Photo by Glenna Pusey

Photo of hearth decorated for the holidays at Hale-Byrnes House. — Hearth decorated for the holidays at the Hale-Byrnes House. Photo by Glenna Pusey

Cooch’s Bridge campus tour
Cooch-Dayett Mills, 904 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019
Program and tour of the Cooch’s Bridge historic site and gristmill. Photos by Ray Colletti

Photo of division historic-sites program manager Dan Citron speaking at the Cooch’s Bridge campus tour. — Division historic-sites program manager Dan Citron speaking at the Cooch’s Bridge campus tour.

Photo of machinery inside Cooch-Dayett Mills — Machinery inside Cooch-Dayett Mills

Photo of the Cooch House — The Cooch House

Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion holiday gathering
John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019
Group provides support for the State of Delaware’s efforts to preserve and maintain the home of John Dickinson. Photos by Ray Colletti

Photo of the John Dickinson Plantation mansion house — John Dickinson Plantation mansion house

Photo of guests arriving for the Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion holiday gathering. — Guests arriving for the Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion holiday gathering.

Photo of the hor d'oeuvre table at the John Dickinson Mansion holiday gathering — Hor d’oeuvre table at the John Dickinson Mansion holiday gathering