Celebrating furry friends throughout history at the Dover Library

Through a continued partnership with the Dover Public Library, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has presented “Dog Years: Delaware Pups of the Past and Present.” 

Visit the first floor of the library to explore the role of dogs in modern Western society and in the lives of those who came before us. The exhibit shares a variety of dog-themed artifacts from Delaware history, including historic pet photos. 

  • Dog object in historic collections
  • Dog object in historic collections
part of an 18th-century brick, found at an archaeological site with a small dog paw print in the brick.
The above image from the exhibit shows part of an 18th-century brick found at an archaeological site. During the process of drying, a small dog left a print in the brick.

Shown above are historic objects featuring similar dog breeds in similar poses, yet with vastly different origins in both place and time.

“Dog Years” will be on display until October 2025. It is just one of several exhibits that HCA has installed at the library over the past year and a half. Differing from our museum exhibitions, these small, temporary exhibits give our curatorial staff, interns and volunteers the chance to showcase items in our collections that may not align with the themes of our museum sites but still represent aspects of Delaware history. 

Exhibits at the Dover Public Library change twice yearly, so come back soon for more!