Collision on Route 40: Cold War Tensions and Civil Rights
2025-02-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
This presentation brought to you by Delaware Humanities explores how Route 40 in Delaware and Maryland became an unexpected battleground for Cold War tensions and civil rights. On this corridor between Baltimore and the Delaware Memorial Bridge, international diplomacy, African decolonization, Jim Crow, Soviet propagandists, and Freedom Riders collided, forcing a confrontation for the Kennedy administration that involved global tensions and domestic policy.

Stories and History: Let's Talk About Monuments
2025-03-08 11:00 - 12:00
Museum staff will use a toolkit from the Delaware Humanities to discuss monuments, their controversies and possible creative solutions with a guided activity.

Native Bee Talk
2025-04-19 12:00 - 13:00
Local Beekeeper Thomas Lunt will talk about the importance of native bees and native plants for those bees.

Escape of the New Castle Prisoner
2025-04-23 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-23 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-24 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-24 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-25 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-25 18:00 - 19:00
Join staff from First State National Historical Park and the New Castle Court House Museum for a NEW Escape Room: “Escape of The New Castle Prisoner”. During the program participants will solve educational, engaging puzzles that will determine which prisoner escaped their cell and where they went. During the program, participants will search for clues inside the Sheriff’s House, break into a jail cell, and attempt the locate the escaped convict. Registration is required for this program and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Where: Sheriff’s House Welcome Center (10 Market Street, New Castle DE 19720)
Cost: FREE
Age: This program is geared towards people 10 years of age or older. Younger participants may attend but may struggle with following the content.
Number of Participants: 2 minimum; 8 maximum
Registration: To register for the program please email firststate@nps.gov the following information:

Preferred date and time (5:00pm or 6:00pm)

Number of people in your party participating in the program

Day in Old New Castle
2025-05-17
How many events do you know of that can say they achieved their 100th? This is every exciting for Historic New Castle and we have been proactively promoting that achievement. The theme for our 100th anniversary is to recreate the first 1925 event as well as A Day in Old New Castle through the decades. We are looking to have the original buildings and homes open, plus other private homes and gardens. We will have family friendly activities that are free of charge so anyone can come enjoy the day!
If you purchase a ticket you receive:

Dock tour on the Kalmar Nyckel
Historic houses and gardens open for tour
Museums and church tours
$1 off ticket price if you dress in Colonial or Victorian period clothing

The following features are Free of Charge throughout the day:

1900-1940 antique cars from the Brandywine Antique Car Club
Steam Cars from the Marshall Steam Car Museum
The Wheelmen antique velocipedes and bicycles
1st Delaware Regiment Encampment/Ft. Casimir Garrison Encampment
Colonial Artisans and crafts
​Children’s activities
Saturday Market ​
And so much more….

Walking Tour of the Green
2025-05-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-11 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-15 10:00 - 11:00
Join the staff at the New Castle Court House Museum for a walking tour of New Castle Green and learn about the history of Green and the structures around it.

Walking Tour of the Green
2025-06-06 10:00 - 11:00
Join the staff at the New Castle Court House Museum for a walking tour of New Castle Green and learn about the history of Green and the structures around it.
Tours run every Friday morning in summer! Check our calendar for a full list of dates.

Separation Day
2025-06-07 10:00 - 16:00
Separation Day is the annual celebration of Delaware’s independence from Pennsylvania and the British Crown. 2025 marks the 249th anniversary of arguably one of the longest running traditions in the state. The community event is held annually in Historic New Castle. Friday night festivities include music, food and drink in the center of town. Saturday kicks off with a Colonial-inspired parade. The middle of the day is filled with children’s rides, an Artisan & Vintage market, live music, beer garden and foods prepared by community groups. The day culminates with fireworks over the Delaware River.

Walking Tour of the Green
2025-06-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-27 10:00 - 11:00
Join the staff at the New Castle Court House Museum for a walking tour of New Castle Green and learn about the history of the Green and the structures around it.

Dog Days of Summer
2025-06-28 20:00 - 22:30
Join us on the Green to watch 1776 and learn about the history behind it.

Dog Days of Summer
2025-07-12 20:00 - 22:30
Join us on the Green as we watch National Treasure and discuss some of the history discussed in the movie.

History Revival
2025-08-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-07 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-21 19:00 - 20:00
This year’s theme for History Revival is historic sporting! Check back for specific details about program presenters.

Dog Days of Summer
2025-08-16 20:00 - 22:30
Join us on the Green as we watch 12 Angry Men and discuss some of the history of the jury as it relates to the Court House.
