Fifty years ago today, the Delaware coast found itself caught in the peak of what would be ranked among the 10 worst storms of the 20th century. It was the second day of a lingering northeaster that displaced dunes and dwellings across the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Rehoboth Beach saw off-shore waves more than 40 feet high […]

Last November, HCA announced an initiative to begin conservation work on the hull of the HMB DeBraak. One of the conservation team’s most urgent objectives was to improve the hull’s support-system and to add a water-filtration system that cleans the water that is used to keep the hull wet. Over the last several weeks, HCA […]

By: Lindsay McNinch In September of 2011, HCA launched a new Volunteer Program.  As the Volunteer Program’s first appearance on the division’s blog, I wanted to take this opportunity to showcase some of the benefits you may receive from volunteering with us. Tying in with the Division’s mission to promote Delaware’s historical legacies, HCA’s Volunteer […]

On June 30th of last year, members of the Delaware General Assembly joined Governor Jack Markell and guests from across the country to pass Senate Joint Resolution #7 at the Old State House in Dover. Sponsored by Sens. Brian Bushweller and Bruce Ennis along with Reps. William Carson and Darryl Scott, the resolution honors the […]

By: Ken Darsney, Curator of Horticulture Being someone who has decided to work outside for a living, there are two questions I get asked more than anything else. The first, which happens in the summer, is: “Hot enough for ya?” at which I reply, “Yes. Yes it is.” The second, and much more legitimate, question […]

By Alice Guerrant It’s important every so often to step back and evaluate what you’ve done so that you can see if you need to change something. Every five years, the State Historic Preservation Office leads the effort to produce a new statewide historic preservation plan. This is our chance as historic preservationists to ask […]

Earlier this week, a film crew from the National Geographic Channel made a special stop at HCA’s Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover. The team is on the tail end of a tour across the country gathering footage for their new and upcoming show, America’s Lost Treasures. That’s all we can really say, as we were […]

Today marks the start of Black History Month and tomorrow Governor Jack Markell will be officially kicking things off in the First State with a public proclamation at 11AM at the Delaware Public Archives. Students from Central Middle School will join the Governor in welcoming Mr. Orlando Camp, one of the “Milford Eleven,” who will […]

We are excited to announce that the Delaware Division of Historical & Cultural Affairs has been selected to participate in the American Association of Museums‘ (AAM) Museum Assessment Program (MAP).  Through a year-long process of guided self-study and on-site consultation with museum professionals, this initiative will empower the division to better serve the community by […]

By Alice Guerrant, Historic Archaeologist This is HCA’s first blog on the topic of preservation, so we thought it appropriate to introduce, for what may be the first time for many readers, the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office. Historic preservation means the study, protection, and maintenance of the historic places that keep us in touch […]