Explore new trails at John Dickinson Plantation

The first phase of a new series of pathways linking the John Dickinson Plantation to the nearby Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is ready to welcome the public for exploration this summer.

A soft opening of the trails is slated for July. Keep an eye on John Dickinson Plantation’s Facebook page as well as the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The main pathway that will first welcome visitors this summer travels from the existing mansion south towards the St. Jones River, following an existing farm lane that has been on the property in some shape or form since the Dickinsons themselves walked the land. From there, the pathway heads east and cuts across a southern part of the property, following close to the edge of the marsh. At that point, the pathway links to the existing trail at DNERR’s St. Jones Reserve. The connection allows people to park at either end and explore both properties.

A new stone pathway leads visitors to new areas of the John Dickinson Plantation. It will open to the public in summer 2023. — This new pathway at the John Dickinson Plantation will soon be open to the public.

The pathway, which is slightly over 1.25 miles long, is made of stone and is accessible to most people with disabilities. The division does offer a wheelchair-accessible golf cart for those who need additional assistance visiting certain parts of the property. The pathway also was designed to be permeable so that rainwater will easily drain and not cause flooding issues in the low-lying coastal area. It was constructed so that there was little-to-no disturbance of cultural resources, thanks to ongoing archaeological oversight.

“This new pathway will allow our visitors to experience more of the landscape of the plantation, while also allowing the division to have additional areas for programs and interpretation, including the stories of those who were enslaved and the Indigenous people who utilized and cared for this land for thousands of years before the Dickinsons were here,” said Dan Citron, the division’s historic sites program manager. “It also connects us with the St. Jones Reserve, which is one of our partners. Historically, the John Dickinson Plantation included the land the division currently owns, the St. Jones Reserve and more. Today, all of that land is part of the nationally recognized St. Jones estuary, so the pathway links the past and the present and allows people to learn about the history and ecology of the area.”

Another section of pathway on the Plantation property also leads to the buffer area around the African burial ground discovered in 2021.

Construction equipment is shown first digging the pathway at the John Dickinson Plantation. — Construction on the pathway has been underway for several months. Planning began in 2021.

This image shows the moved dirt that's part of a new pathway project at the John Dickinson Plantation. — Construction on the pathway has been underway for several months. Planning began in 2021.

Work on the first phase of the pathway began in spring 2023. Interpretive panels will soon be installed along the pathway to educate visitors about what they’re seeing and other features in the landscape, both historically and naturally. Future phases of the pathway project will get people closer to the marsh and more of the agricultural fields.

An official grand opening is being planned for fall 2023. Check back soon for more details!

Financial support for this project was provided in part by a grant under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, administered by the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland.