Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs - State of Delaware

Walk to the DeBraak
2025-05-10 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-01 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Join this special tour that explores the history, artifacts and surviving hull section of the HMS DeBraak, an 18th century shipwreck!
The begins at Cape Henlopen State Park (CHSP). Participants will meet Zwaanendael staff outside the CHSP Park Office and take a short walk (0.3miles) to the DeBraak conservation facility. There, attendees will see the surviving hull of the ship and learn more about the history, crew and sinking of the DeBraak through a guided presentation and display of artifacts.
Each tour will last approximately 45 minutes. Individuals ages10 and up are welcome. Space is limited to 18 participants. Footwear is required for participants.
Prior registration is encouraged. Walk ups are welcome if space is available. To register, email zmuseum@delaware.gov or call (302) 645-1148.
This is a free program!

Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild Demonstrations
2025-05-10 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-12 13:00 - 15:00 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. Program occurs during tours to explore fiber arts pursuits and may include spinning, weaving, knitting, and other historic handcrafts.

May Day Activity at the Zwaanendael Museum
2025-05-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Celebrate the changing seasons with a seasonal craft! Throughout 2025, the Zwaanendael Museum will offer short, 15 minute lectures paired with a fun, easy to-do craft that connects to natural, nautical and agricultural traditions. Learn about what is in season, the kinds of wildlife and plant life to look out for, and then make a May Day related flower craft.

Dover Days at John Dickinson Plantation
2025-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
Celebrate Dover Days at the John Dickinson Plantation! Activities include tours of the mansion and historic demonstrations. At 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. there will be guided walks to the African Burial Ground, weather permitting. Meet at the Log’d Dwelling to join your guides for the walk. The mile round-trip walk to the African Burial Ground will include a moment of silence when arriving there. This opportunity to visit the African Burial Ground does not require a reservation.
For the safety of guests and staff, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event due to inclement and/or dangerous weather conditions.

Dover Days at the Old State House
2025-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
The Old State House will be open to the public for self-guided tours and activities as part of the annual Dover Days celebration.

Escape of the New Castle Prisoner
2025-04-25 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-25 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-24 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-24 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-23 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-23 17:00 - 18:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
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

Native Bee Talk
2025-04-19 12:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Local Beekeeper Thomas Lunt will talk about the importance of native bees and native plants for those bees.

Downtown Lewes Nature Tour
2025-04-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Walk though Lewes with a fresh set of eyes! Join Zwaanendael Interpreter Laurie C. for this new walking tour which focuses on the unique natural landscape of Lewes. Learn about native and non-native plants found in the town, and see things you might not have noticed at first glance. Registration required.

Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation Meeting
2025-04-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Delaware Center for Material Culture (CMC), 1351 W North Street, Dover, DE, 19901
The Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation serves as the advisory body to the state historic preservation officer, the official appointed by the governor to oversee and implement the state’s preservation policies in accordance with federal standards. As part of its responsibilities, the State Review Board evaluates historic properties for placement in the National Register of Historic Places, and provides professional advice on historic preservation matters.

The next State Review Board is scheduled for April 16 2025, from 10am to noon, at the Delaware Center for Material Culture (1351 West North Street Suite 102, Dover, DE), with the option to attend virtually via Zoom. Please note, this meeting will include a continuation of the Boards January 15, 2025, meeting, where the Board did not have quorum and was unable to make motions or vote. As part of the meeting, State Review Board members will consider the nomination for Independence Mall, located at 1601 Concord Pike in Wilmington, and the Mitchell-Biden House, located at 228 North Star Road in Newark for submission to the National Park Service for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. For a copy of the either nomination please visit our website at https://history.delaware.gov/ or contact Emily Whaley at Emily.Whaley@delaware.gov.

Make a Delft Tile
2025-04-12 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-05 11:00 - 15:00 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Learn about Delft tiles and make one yourself! No ceramic experience is required, these Delft tiles are made with pre-fabricated white tiles that can be decorated however you like.

2025 Delmarva Archaeology and History Symposium
2025-04-05 | The Arsenal, 30 Market St, New Castle, DE, 19720, United States
Saturday, April 5, 2025
The Arsenal
30 Market St., New Castle, DE 19720
The Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, in partnership with the Archaeological Society of Delaware, is organizing the annual symposium on Delaware archaeology and history, to be hosted this year by the New Castle Historical Society. This annual symposium will feature presentations highlighting archaeological investigations, historical research and related topics for the Delmarva Peninsula and surrounding areas. This event is free and open to the public.
For additional information, contact Hannah Lewis at Hannah.Lewis@delaware.gov or by calling 302-736-7437. The full schedule of events can be found below.

9-9:15 a.m.: Welcome
Gwen Davis (Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer) & John Martin (President of the Archaeological Society of Delaware)

9:15-9:45 a.m.: Out of the Field and Into the Flat: Understanding Collections Management and its Importance in Archaeology
Karli Palmer (Curator, HCA)

9:45-10:15 a.m.: Maintaining Middle Woodland Relationships at Millsboro Pond, Sussex County
John Martin (Cultural Resources Program Supervisor, DelDOT)

Break

10:30-11 a.m.: Rescue Archaeology at Lovett Farmstead, Middletown
Anna Hansen (Student, University of Delaware)

11-11:30 a.m.: Colonial Ceramic Fashions in the Delaware Valley: Testing Taste in a Community of Faith
John McCarthy (Archaeologist, DelDOT)

11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Shedding Light on Black History in Delaware with the Plantation Stories Project
Annie Fenimore (Lead Interpreter, John Dickinson Plantation, HCA)

Lunch

1-1:30 p.m.: A Nearly Forgotten Early 20th Century Avocational Archaeologist – and Delawarean – Who Helped Change the Profession Forever
Steve Cox (Historical Interpreter, Johnson Victrola Museum, HCA)

1:30-2 p.m.: Fast Landing to Duck Creek Crossroads
Bruce Bendler (Adjunct Professor of History, University of Delaware)

Break

2:15-2:45 p.m.: Phase II Excavations at the Francina Plantation
Bill Liebknecht (Dovetail Cultural Resource Group)

2:45 – 3:15 p.m.: The Cannon Maston House: Architectural Investigations Provide New Understanding for One of Southern Delaware’s Earliest Buildings
Barton Ross (President, Barton Ross & Partners LLC)

3:15-3:45 p.m.: Survey in Delaware: A Look Back and a Look Ahead
Gwen Davis, Hannah Lewis, & Sarah Carr (Delaware SHPO)

Closing Remarks

Spring at the Zwaanendael Museum
2025-04-01 10:00 - 16:30 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Celebrate the spring season! Just in time for the Lewes Tulip Celebration, the Zwaanendael Museum will be decorated by the Sussex Gardeners. Come visit the museum, see the decorations, and enjoy the local tulips.

Friends of Folk Concert Series: Skyler Cumbia
2025-03-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Skyler Cumbia is a singer songwriter and music therapist, originally from Virginia. She has lived in Wilmington for over four years. A multi-instrumentalist who enjoys many genres of music, she will most often be found playing folk and pop music with an occasional jazz standard. Skyler got involved in the Wilmington music scene and the surrounding areas through open mics and gigging at coffee shops, breweries, and music festivals. From connections made through those experiences, she was able to record and release an EP of original music this year. Her music is influenced and inspired by experiences and thoughts on life, international travels, love of nature, and much more. As a music therapist, Skyler works for a hospice company, collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, and chaplains to manage symptoms and support patients physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She visits patients wherever they live in Delaware and uses their preferred music to decrease pain, anxiety, shortness of breath, etc. She may also support them in life review and reminiscence and provide the opportunity for engagement in active music making, songwriting, or legacy projects.
Learn more about Skyler Cumbia on her website.

Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild Demonstrations
2025-03-08 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-08 13:00 - 15:00 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. Program occurs during tours to explore fiber arts pursuits and may include spinning, weaving, knitting, and other historic handcrafts. Group meeting takes place in the Mansion Dining Room.

Stories and History: Let's Talk About Monuments
2025-03-08 11:00 - 12:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Museum staff will use a toolkit from the Delaware Humanities to discuss monuments, their controversies and possible creative solutions with a guided activity.

Tea Time Fun with History and Science
2025-03-08 10:00 - 11:30 | St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Rd, Dover, DE, 19901
Join DNERR and John Dickinson Plantation education staff for a free morning of history and science. Sip tea while learning about the historical purposes of tea, specifically how tea was integrated throughout life at the John Dickinson Plantation. But tea isn’t just for drinking, it is also for innovative research! Learn how DNERR scientists use tea to measure decomposition in the marsh surrounding the St. Jones River. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Click here to register!

CANCELED Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation Meeting
2025-02-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Delaware Center for Material Culture (CMC), 1351 W North Street, Dover, DE, 19901
The Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation serves as the advisory body to the state historic preservation officer, the official appointed by the governor to oversee and implement the state’s preservation policies in accordance with federal standards. As part of its responsibilities, the State Review Board evaluates historic properties for placement in the National Register of Historic Places, and provides professional advice on historic preservation matters.

The next State Review Board is scheduled for February 26 2025, from 10am to noon, at the Delaware Center for Material Culture (1351 West North Street Suite 102, Dover, DE), with the option to attend virtually via Zoom. Please note, this meeting is a continuation of the Boards January 15, 2025, meeting, where the Board did not have quorum and was unable to make motions or vote. As part of the meeting, State Review Board members will consider the nomination for Independence Mall, located at 1601 Concord Pike in Wilmington for submission to the National Park Service for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. For a copy of the nomination please visit our website at https://history.delaware.gov/ or contact Emily Whaley at Emily.Whaley@delaware.gov.

Collision on Route 40: Cold War Tensions and Civil Rights
2025-02-22 12:00 - 13:00 | 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.

Trivia Night with John Dickinson Plantation at the St. Jones Reserve
2025-02-21 18:00 - 20:00 | St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Rd, Dover, DE, 19901
Do you have a surplus of Delaware-related history and nature knowledge you would love to showoff? Do you like engaging in friendly competition and want the chance to win a cool prize? Then you should join DNERR and the John Dickinson Plantation’s education team for a Delaware-themed science and history trivia night at the ST. Jones Reserve!
Light refreshments will be provided. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Click here to register!

Friends of Folk Concert Series: Ampersand, Stella Prince
2025-02-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Opening the evening will be Nashville-based singer songwriter Stella Prince. Shaping her emotions into powerful songs and performances that put her visceral voice at center stage, Stella Prince has forged her own genre. Her Gen Z folk has earned her sold-out shows across North America and Europe, history-making Nashville performances at AMERICANAFEST and Tin Pan South, and a #1 on the Official Folk Charts. She is a winner of the 2023 Folk Alliance First Timers Scholarship and finalist for the 2024 John Cirillo Songwriting Award.
Learn more about Stella Prince on her website.
Ampersand interprets music from the folk and old-time American traditions on modern instruments with treasured songs and lively instrumentals, finding great joy in bringing this music to modern ears. The core of Ampersand is Beth Lawton and Dick Hogle, whose duo work shines with the spark of vocal harmonies and a shared musical sensibility. The Ampersand name is particularly appropriate since the whole of this group is definitely more than the sum of its parts. Band manager and mother hen, Beth incorporates a wide range of vocal styles to her music, adding harmonies that range from sultry to playful. Guitar, hammered dulcimer, and occasionally banjo or mountain dulcimer are her instruments of choice. Bringing a warm bluesy style to the group, Dick offers guitar leads, a strong baritone voice, and more recently, mandolin leads and banjo pickin’ to the mix. Topher Lawton’s mellow baritone voice and foot-stompin’ bones-playing add a depth to all the gigs he joins in on. Topher’s specialty is early music, including shape note singing, but he is willing to play “modern” colonial-era tunes when need be. Cello, bouzouki, and penny whistles round out his offerings. Eastern Shore musician Dave Moore brings guitar, harmonica, banjo, and bass to the group, adding his voice to the rich harmonies.
Learn more about Ampersand on their website.

Make a Sailor Valentine
2025-02-08 11:00 - 15:00 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Purchased by sailors on their travels to give to their sweethearts back home, sailor valentines were popular souvenirs. Learn about these intricate works of art and make one yourself!
