Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs - State of Delaware

Zwaanendael Museum/Fort Miles Program
2026-02-27 - 2026-02-28 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
More information to come.

The Emergence of American Military Medicine under Washington
2026-03-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
In partnership with the Battell and Read Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, historian Dr. Frederick Magner will discuss the establishment of military medicine under George Washington, turning a neglected field into a self-reliant, credible force signaling medicine’s emergence from European dominance.

Quill Pen Writing
2026-03-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Visitors to the Old State House will have a chance to participate in quill pen demonstrations where they can try writing like people did in America’s early days.

[Postponed] The First, First Ladies: Martha, Abigail and Dolley
2026-03-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Historic Site Interpreter Susan Emory will describe the lives and contributions of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison to the early years of the American Republic.

Women Scorned: Petit Reason and Punishment in 18th Century Delaware
2026-03-13 12:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
When Delaware declared its independence in 1776, it prompted a plethora of changes pertaining to its government and legal system. As the state grew and evolved, it reflected on crime and punishment in this new era. One crime that the new government reviewed was petit treason, which was treasonous acts committed against a person of authority other than the government.
Throughout its history, two Delaware women were tried for petit treason: Catherine Bevan in 1731 and Sarah Kirk in 1787. While their charges were the same, their punishments were not. Join us as we examine documents from the Delaware Public Archives’ collections to discuss these women and the changing legal system of a new Delaware.
Presented by: Dana Niemeyer, Delaware Public Archives

Friends of Folk Concert featuring The Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience
2026-03-13 19:30 - 20:30 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901

Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild Demonstrations
2026-03-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-11 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 1-3 p.m. in the Mansion Dining Room.

Blue Hens and Bugbears
2026-03-20 18:00 - 21:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Partnership with Delaware Historical Society, New Castle Public Library and New Castle Court House Museum. Come play a revolutionary inspired game of Dungeons and Dragons in a revolutionary era building. We will be running an adapted version of 5th edition at the Court House for all ages.
Please read more and fill out the Delaware Historic Society Registration.

Road to Liberty
2026-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Visitors can come play an original board game created by Delaware Public Archives staff to help kids learn about Delaware’s role in the Revolutionary War. Designed for quick play – approximately 10 minutes – the game utilizes archival documents from the Archives’ collections as part of the journey. Players move their pieces along the board, draw Action and Chance cards, and encounter shortcuts, setbacks, and historical challenges along the way.

Make a Delft Tile
2026-04-04 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.
This craft is available at the Zwaanendael Museum from 11a.m. to 3p.m. while supplies last. No cost. Perfect for older children or adults. The Zwaanendael Museum is located at 102 Kings Hwy, Lewes DE. Call 302-645-1148 or email zmuseum@delaware.gov for more information about this event.

Encircled by Silence: Delaware’s Isolation in the Revolutionary War
2026-04-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
What did Delawareans experience during the American Revolution? With the British raiding along the coast, American patrols stalking the Brandywine Valley, and riots and uprisings in their own backyards, the state felt the grip of a war coming too close to home. Join an audience centered experience at the Old State House with volunteer researcher Teresa Pierce as she attempts to reveal what Delaware felt like to residents during the late 1770s. Participants will hear several accounts from period manuscripts, and participate in facilitated conversations to discuss the real life experiences of Delawareans during the war.

The Emergence of American Military Medicine under Washington
2026-04-11 12:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
With 32 years of distinguished service as a medical Officer in the United States Army, Dr. Wagner retired with the rank of Colonel. He is a noted medical historian and shares his deep knowledge of medicine and history. A graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Dr. Magner has served as a Pentagon consultant, advising on the mobilization and coordination of medical forces across all service branches.
This program is free of charge, but due to limited seating, please register online here.
This program is presented by The New Castle Court House Museum, in partnership with and made possible by the generosity of the Battell and Read Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (New Castle).

Revolutionary River: The Delaware Waterway & the War for Independence
2026-04-24 18:00 - 19:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
The Delaware River was more than an obstacle crossed by Washington’s army on December 25th, 1776. At the heart of its 120 navigable miles lay Philadelphia, the Revolutionary capital of a new republic…if it could be won, and kept. Perhaps more vitally than any other waterway, the Bay and River became a strategic actor in its own right, influencing trade, communication, and military movement – especially during the key phase of 1776-1778. Join independent historian and Historic Lewes’ Director of Interpretation, Ryan Schwartz, in this exploration of how the waters that still flow passed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware influenced the dramatic acts of the United States’ founding drama.

2026 Delmarva Archaeology & History Symposium
2026-04-25 09:00 - 16:30 | Historic Lewes Maritime Musuem, 101 Adams Avenue, Lewe, DE, 19958, United States
The Delaware State Historic Preservation Office of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Archaeological Society of Delaware, will present the annual Delmarva Archaeology and History Symposium at the Lewes History Museum, 101 Adams Avenue, in Lewes on Saturday, April 25th 2026 from 9:00am to 4:30pm. Researchers and field experts will share findings from historical research to archaeological investigations that bring Delaware’s rich cultural past to life. The event is free to the public and open to the media, and is hosted by Historic Lewes, previously known as the Lewes Historical Society.
Agenda:
9-9:15 am – Welcome: Gwen Davis (Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer) & John Martin (President of the Archaeological Society of Delaware)
9:15-9:45am – Max Kichline (Archaeologist): Form and Function: A Comparative Minimum Number of Vessels (MNV) Analysis of Ceramics from Select Eighteenth-Century Sites in Delaware
9:45-10:15 am – Sara Downard (Lead Naturalist, Delaware State Parks): Using Interdisciplinary Research to Investigate Marginalized Peoples in 19th Century Rockland, Delaware
10:30-11am – Dan Griffith (Griffith Archaeology Consulting): Discovery, Recovery, Interpreted Period of Internment and Relatedness – Eleven Unmarked Historic Human Burials at the Avery’s Rest Archaeological Site
11-11:30am – Debra C. Martin (Historic Preservation Planner, City of Wilmington): Will the Real Captain Fountain Please Stand Up? Research on a Delaware Underground Railroad Hero
11:30am-12pm – Brayden Moore (Student, University of Delaware): The Life and Career of Charlotte E. Ray, First Black Woman Lawyer in the United States and Delaware Teacher from 1879-1884
Lunch Break
1:30-2:00pm – Kara Briggs (Architectural Historian): Wallace E. Hance (1889-1943): An Exploration of his Architectural Works in Delaware
2-2:30pm – Wade Catts (Archaeologist, South River Heritage Consulting): “They Positioned Themselves Behind Christiana Creek… Here the 2nd Light Infantry Came to Aid”: Archaeological Evidence of a Firefight on Cooch’s Bridge Battlefield
2:45-3:15pm – Emily Whaley (Architectural Historian, Laurel Historical Society): Municipal History through a Historic Lens: How Historic Photographs Can Inform the Historic Record
3:15-3:45pm – Linda Seminario (Archaeologist, Delaware State Parks): Mucking out the Yard: An Investigation of a Nineteenth through Twentieth Century Barn
3:45-4pm – Devon Filicicchia (Site Supervisor, Zwaanandael Museum): Submersed in History: Charting a New Course for Shipwreck Tours of the HMS DeBraak

In the Shadows of the Gallows: The History of Capital Punishment in America
2026-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
The historical, legal, and ethical evolution of capital punishment in the United States is complex. This program examines public executions—particularly in Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic—from the era when the sheriff was the county executioner to the modern era, highlighting key reforms as the nation debated the abolition of the death penalty and sought more humane methods of execution. Throughout, it analyzes the shifting historical, cultural, legal, and ethical factors that influenced the nation’s approach to capital punishment.

Old State House Extended Hours
2026-05-01 10:00 - 21:00
As part of Dover Days festivities, the Old State House will have special extended hours. The building will be open to visitors 10am to 9pm.

Dover Days Celebration and Dover English Country Dancers at the Old State House
2026-05-02 12:30 - 14:30
As part of the annual Dover Days celebration and commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary join the Old State House in welcoming the Dover English Country Dancers. The group will present traditional 16th century English country dance, popularized throughout Europe and in America in the early decades of our nation, with performances at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Those interested in learning this traditional activity can take part in their dances on the second Saturday of each month at the Murphey School at 7pm with a brief introduction for new dancers at 6:30. The group encourages participation by people of all ages. For more information, please visit their website at doverdancers.org.

Loyalist on the Lawn
2026-05-09 10:30 - 15:30 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Meet our costumed historian portraying an officer of the Loyal American Regiment. Learn about the uniforms, equipment and life of a Loyalist from Lewes during the Revolutionary War. A special “Hydrating the Revolution Program”, led by Lead Historical Interpreter Annie F. from the John Dickinson Plantation will also take place.
Rotating activities and additional programs will be available. Good for all ages. No cost to participate.
Questions? Call (302) 645-1148 or email zmuseum@delaware.gov

Day in Old New Castle
2026-05-16 10:00 - 16:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
The oldest home and garden tour in America, in one of our most beautiful and historic small towns, on the nation’s 250th anniversary. There will be activities for kids and art contests, Revolutionary War reenactors, performers and music and costumes, markets for food and crafts, special offers in our unique shops and restaurants. Put it on your calendar and plan to come with the whole family.
The New Castle Court House Museum will be open for tours and have a special pop up exhibit with objects from the Bicentennial
Please click on the tickets box when going to buy tickets on the Day in Old New Castle website.

Walk to DeBraak
2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-30 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-06-04 10:00 - 11:00 | 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 tour will start 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 facility. There, attendees will see the hull of the ship and learn about the history, crew and sinking of the DeBraak through a guided presentation and display of artifacts.
Each tour will last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Individuals ages 10 and up are welcome. Space is limited to 18 participants. Footwear is required for participants.
Prior registration is strongly encouraged to ensure a spot. Walkups are welcome only if space is available. To register, email zmuseum@delaware.gov or call (302) 645-1148.
Tours for groups of more than 10 people may be arranged in advance by contacting the museum.
This is a free program.

Loyalist on the Lawn
2026-05-23 10:30 - 15:30 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Meet our costumed historian portraying an officer of the Loyal American Regiment. Learn about the uniforms, equipment and life of a Loyalist from Lewes during the Revolutionary War.

Rotating activities and additional programs will be available. Good for all ages. No cost to participate.
Questions? Call (302) 645-1148 or email zmuseum@delaware.gov

Suzuki Academy Performance
2026-05-23 15:00 - 16:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Come listen to students from the Suzuki Academy of the Music School of Delaware preform in the New Castle Court House Museum.

Jack Nastyface and His World: The Archaeology of a British Warship
2026-05-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Historic Lewes Maritime Musuem, 101 Adams Avenue, Lewe, DE, 19958, United States
The Zwaanendael Museum and Historic Lewes welcomes archeologist and curator Chuck Fithian for this special maritime presentation!
Using information derived from the study of the DeBraak and its associated artifacts, this presentation will provide an archaeological perspective on the world of the naval sailor. It will show the complexities of their “wooden world,” and place it into the wider context of maritime culture, naval warfare, and the historical events shaping the late eighteenth century Atlantic world. While the DeBraak’s Delaware story takes place in the late 1790s, this presentation will also discuss the vessel and her captain’s connections to the American War for Independence.
About The Speaker
Chuck Fithian is a Historical Archaeologist, with over forty years of experience working in the Mid-Atlantic region. He is the retired Curator of Archaeology for the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, where he oversaw the State’s extensive archaeological collection and managed several archaeological and historical research projects. This included the conservation, research and curation of the hull and associated collection of the DeBraak. For this work, Chuck was inducted into the Delaware Maritime Hall of Fame in 2023. After leaving HCA, he served as lecturer and staff archeologist at Washington College. He is currently working on a social history of the Delaware Regiment during the American Revolution, and the documentation of Delaware’s military and logistical landscape during the American Revolution.
Free admission. The program begins at 5p.m. at the Historic Lewes Maritime Museum, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes DE.

Loyalist on the Lawn
2026-06-06 10:30 - 15:30 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Meet our costumed historian portraying an officer of the Loyal American Regiment. Learn about the uniforms, equipment and life of a Loyalist from Lewes during the Revolutionary War.

A special historic paint program, led by HCA Volunteer Coordinator Jen B., will also take place.

Other rotating activities my be available. Good for all ages. No cost to participate.
Questions? Call (302) 645-1148 or email zmuseum@delaware.gov

Separation Day Parade
2026-06-13 10:00 - 16:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Separation Day is the annual celebration of Delaware’s independence from Pennsylvania and the British Crown. 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of arguably one of the longest running traditions in the state. The community event is held annually in Historic New Castle. 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. Numerous historical institution will be on the historic Green in New Castle with activities from 11-4. The day culminates with fireworks over the Delaware River.

Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild Demonstrations and Meeting
2026-06-13 13:00 - 15:00 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
This program occurs during tours to explore fiber arts pursuits and may include spinning, weaving, knitting, and other historic handcrafts.
Group meeting 1-3 p.m. in the Mansion Dining Room.

Separation Day Observed
2026-06-15 10:00 - 16:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
In observance of Separation Day and the nation’s 250th Anniversary, the space will be open for a special event on June 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with educational activities related to civics and the history of beloved state symbols such as the Blue Hen and Horseshoe Crab . At 7pm that same day NCCH will host a special Declaration of Independence program. This supplements the City of New Castle celebrations on the Green, Parade and more.
