History Revival - Taverns, Taprooms and Tippling Houses
2024-08-29 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Join us as New Castle Historical Society director Mike Connolly discusses taverns located in the city of New Castle in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Some taverns were famous, and some infamous, but all offered services for travelers and residents alike.

46th Annual Nanticoke Powwow
2024-09-07 10:00 - 19:00, 2024-09-08 10:00 - 19:00 | Hudson Fields, 30045 Eaglecrest Rd, Milton, DE, 19968
The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA) is a proud sponsor of this year’s powwow.

Art Workshop
2024-09-12 18:30 - 19:30 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Participants will get to explore using pastels with local artist Dennis Young and then use those skills on Saturday to make art on the New Castle Green. This workshop is required if you are going to be attending the Plein Air on Saturday but if you join the workshop you are not required to join the art making on the Green on Saturday. Space is limited so please register with Moz’ Art Gallery
For details about the following showcase on September 14, please see the link below:

Pastels on The Green

Pastels on The Green
2024-09-14 08:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Workshop attendees will get the chance to use their skills and do pastel art on the New Castle Green. The Thursday workshop is required if you are going to be attending the Plein Air on Saturday but if you join the workshop you are not required to join the art making on the Green. Space is limited so please register with Moz’ Art Gallery.
For details about the workshop, please see the link below:

Pastels on The Green

Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild Demonstrations
2024-09-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-12 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. Group meeting 1-3 p.m. in the Mansion Dining Room.

Addressing the Silence: Town Hall in Partnership with the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice
2024-09-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Register and join us in-person at the Lewes Public Library’s large meeting room.

We are thrilled to invite you to an informative Town Hall! The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ) is proud to unveil a groundbreaking collaboration with the John Dickinson Plantation (JDP).

Town Hall Discussion Highlights

About “Addressing the Silence”
This transformative project, spearheaded by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is dedicated to fostering knowledge of those excluded from history. Spanning two-and-a-half years, it brings together 13 museums from across the United States, all committed to preserving our full, factual history.

SDARJ’s Role as a Community Partner
As the designated Community Partner, SDARJ plays a pivotal role in this initiative alongside JDP. Our participation will focus on:

Building Relationships: Engage in open and honest conversations with JDP staff to align views and objectives.
Shaping Museum Practices: Collaborate with JDP to ensure the enslaved population who lived, worked and died on this plantation will be known and remembered through their exhibits and programs.
Championing Community Voices: Ensure that JDP’s work authentically reflects the diverse stories of all who lived there.

Why This Matters to Our Community

Reflecting Our History
SDARJ’s involvement in “Addressing the Silences” empowers us to ensure that the stories of the enslaved residents of JDP are told with accuracy and respect. This project will assist with ancestral history and documentation of the black community. Furthermore, it will enhance the entire community’s knowledge about the forgotten and silenced enslaved people.

Sharing Learnings Nationally
At the project’s conclusion, a national learning session will bring together all participating museums and community partners to share insights and outcomes. This exchange will help museums become more welcoming and inclusive spaces.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of a significant movement towards inclusivity and representation in historical storytelling. Join us to learn more about this exciting initiative and how it will benefit our community!
We look forward to seeing you there!

Register Today!
Let’s make history together!

African Burial Ground Guided Visitation
2024-09-21 10:00 - 12:00 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
An opportunity to visit the African burial ground and engage with guides about the complex history of the site.
Reservations are required and can be made after 8/23/2024 by calling 302-739-3277. This program is recommended for ages 13 and older.
The burial ground is believed to be the final resting place for enslaved and free Black men, women and children who died on the plantation. The guided visitations will reflect on the historical context and archaeological research surrounding this significant piece of Delaware’s shared history.
The 1 ½ hour experience will include an orientation in the visitor center, a tour of the recreated log’d dwelling and a mile round-trip walk to the burial ground, which will include a moment of silence.
A majority of the activities will take place outdoors. Participants must be prepared for adverse weather conditions and for travel, by foot, over uneven terrain including an unpaved road and an agricultural field. Appropriate clothing is advised including a hat, closed-toed shoes with good tread such as sneakers or boots, long pants and clothing that accounts for current weather conditions and the presence of insects. Visitors are also advised to bring their own insect repellent and sunscreen.
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.

National Estuaries Day Week at the John Dickinson Plantation
2024-09-26 17:00 - 18:30 | St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Rd, Dover, DE, 19901
Join DNERR and John Dickinson Plantation education staff for a free hike from the St. Jones Reserve to the John Dickinson Plantation and back. Learn about the natural and cultural history of the area while experiencing the twilight life of the St. Jones Estuary. Registration is required.
Click this link to register: National Estuaries Week Hike

World Vexillology Day - Flags Over Delaware
2024-10-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Over Delaware’s 390 years of history, numerous flags have flown over the state. Presentation discusses these flags and how they have influenced other flags currently flying throughout the state.

Mysteries of History
2024-10-05 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-19 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, 19958
Explore the darker and more unusual history of Lewes with this spooky walking tour! Participants will wind through downtown Lewes while Zwaanendael Interpreters share stories of shipwrecks, mysterious disappearances, and much more. The tour begins at the Zwaanendael Museum and ends at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The tour last approximately 80 minutes and is a half mile long. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required.
These tours fill up quickly and space is limited so reserve your spot! Call the Zwaanendael Museum at (302) 645-1148 or email at Zmuseum@delaware.gov to sign up.

History Revival: Produce and Dairy Farming in the Small Wonder State
2024-10-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Presentation: Staff from the Delaware Agricultural Museum will provide an overview of a recently opened exhibition in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution. Then, a history of the Dairy industry in Delaware in advance of another new exhibit, “Dairying in Delaware” (2025).

Speakers: Dr.Christiane Warren is a highly sought after conference panelist, award-winning educator and published author, who assumed the role of Executive Director of the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover in 2024. In this capacity, Dr. Warren draws on her successful record of service. She has served as department chair and academic dean at 2-and 4-year institutions in NJ and NY, as well as holds a doctorate in Intellectual History and several Master’s degrees from Drew University and Capella University, and graduated with honors from the University of Maryland/European Division. Her portfolio includes leading institution-wide policy revisions and advocating practices that have increased enrollment, retention, and graduation rates at her client institutions. Dr.Warren’s expertise lies in grant writing and administration, leadership and program development.
Prior to her current position as Museum Services Manager at the Delaware Agricultural Museum, Kayla Growe was a successful Retail Store Manager for Catherine’s Plus Sizes in Wilmington, Delaware. Throughout her successful career, Ms. Growe was awarded the President’s Club honor, being in the top 5% of all Catherine stores in the country. Ms. Growe’s skill of customer service, public relations, and event planning comes from her background and student career. In 2013, Ms. Growe graduated from Delaware Technical and Community College in Dover with an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences – General Business. During this time, she learned to build relationships within our community which she still uses today.
Register Here
Delaware Humanities funding acknowledgement
History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Friends of Folk Concert Series: Tyler Greene
2024-10-11 19:30 - 20:30 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Unpredictable in genre or instrumentation, Delaware native Tyler Greene is always striving to explore new methods of songwriting, production, and performance. With a show that features acoustic asides, psychedelic jams, sample manipulation, & live looping mastery, Tyler is sure to fit the bill and to deliver. Shapeshifting into whatever the situation calls for, he draws on extensive music theory knowledge and 10+ years of experience of playing shows around Delmarva to take audiences on a sonic journey of playful exploration. Tyler is also known for taking requests during cover sets, engaging with a crowd, and taking new songs as an exciting challenge.
Learn more on Tyler Greene’s website.

Historic Trades Day
2024-10-12 10:00 - 16:00 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
Explore historic occupations at the John Dickinson Plantation. Learn about historic woodworking from a peg and shingle maker. Experience the sights and sounds of a blacksmith at work. Learn how to spin wool on a drop spindle and dye it different colors. Enjoy the challenge of playing historic games and tour a historic house museum.

Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation Meeting
2024-10-16 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 State Review Boards Annual Business meeting is scheduled for October 16, 2024, 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. As part of the meeting, State Review Board members will conduct their Annual Business meeting and will consider the nomination for the Isaacs and Sons Cold Storage Building, located at 107 Depot Street in Georgetown for submission to the National Park Service for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Isaacs & Sons_NR Nomination_SRB Draft

Well-Seasoned Heirlooms
2024-10-18 12:00 - 13:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Historic Site Interpreter Kimberly Fritsch of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ New Castle Court House Museum shines a spotlight on the practices, recipes and women throughout Delaware history as they speak to us through their food.
This is a virtual event hosted via New Castle Court House Museum’s Facebook page.

History Revival: The History of Military Food in Delaware
2024-10-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Presentation: From the Revolutionary War to WWII, this program will outline the history of foods consumed by military personnel throughout Delaware’s history.
Speaker: Mark Wilson is the Lead Interpreter at Zwaanendael Museum. His focuses at the museum include educational programming, researching local topics such as Lewes and maritime history, and working closely with part-time staff.
Register Here
Delaware Humanities funding acknowledgement
History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

History Revival: Chickens on Delmarva - 100 Years of Backyard Flocks, Farms and Friends
2024-10-25 17:00 - 18:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Presentation: A visual review of the 100 year history of the chicken industry – including great stories, a precise procedure for building a chicken farm, introduction to some outstanding/award winning chicken farmers, a look at the fanciers and breeds shown at the Delaware State Fair, and finally the kids:FAA and 4H clubs…with their birds.
Speaker: Joanne Kurz Guilfoil is a retired art educator and long time chicken keeper. Joanne has raised and kept chickens as pets her entire life,except for the year she lived in Akiak, Alaska, teaching and doing research ina one-room Eskimo village school. She practiced the ethnographic method of field research as part of her doctoral studies at the University of Oregon. But even while attending graduate school classes and teaching, she kept chickens. Her book, Chickens on Delmarva, is much more to Joanne than just a history of the broiler industry and growers on the Peninsula. It’s also a joyful personal journey of self-discovery.
Register Here
Delaware Humanities funding acknowledgement
History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Lantern Tour of John Dickinson Plantation
2024-10-25 18:30 - 19:30 | John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE, 19901
Visit the John Dickinson Plantation for an evening tour. Enjoy a wagon ride with the staff from the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR). Enjoy a bit of gossip in the parlor. Sing sea shanties by a campfire.
Space is limited and reservations are required. Reservations will betaken by phone beginning October 3, 2024. More details to be determined.

William Penn Day
2024-10-26 10:00 - 16:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Celebrate the landing of William Penn in America! Attendees will get to hear about the Treaty William Penn made with the Leni Lenape from the Penn Treaty Museum at 12 PM and hear music of the time preformed by Delaware Music School’s Suzuki Academy at 3 PM.
Rethinking the Treaty of Friendship
William Penn’s meeting with Lenni Lenape tribal leaders in 1682 at Shackamaxon was, according to Voltaire, the “only treaty never sworn to and never broken.” No written treaty survives, yet early references abound and Lenape oral history supports the evidence. Speaker Penny Dwyer will explain how a fascination with the story of the Treaty of Friendship evolved over centuries and manifested in relics, works of art and commercialism.
Penny Dwyer is Curator at the Penn Treaty Museum, Philadelphia.

We Didn't Vote for Him: Delaware and the Election of 1860
2024-11-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Every four years we hear that “this is the most important election in our history,” but what happened in the election of 1860 that took the country into a civil war? Explore the issues to understand why Delawareans didn’t vote for Abraham Lincoln and discover how he won despite not receiving a single vote in ten states. Old State House Site Supervisor Gavin Malone will take you back more than 160 years to the event that historian Gary Gallagher described as “the most fateful election in US history.”

History Revival: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake with Alexis Aggrey
2024-11-02 17:00 - 18:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Presentation: The unique relationship between African Americans and the Chesapeake Bay contains an abundance of untold stories, as told in the documentary, Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake. Join us for a screening of the film with a discussion afterwards with the film’s director, Alexis Aggrey.
Mid-nineteenth century Maryland offered pseudo-freedom to Black Americans who lived and worked on the water. Between 1790 and 1860, the population of free Blacks grew tremendously; some 58% of the Black population was free. This was the largest population of free Black Americans in the entire United States, and watermen were central to the success of these communities. In Maryland, the tradition of seafood fed millions and offered an opportunity for innovation that extended to both the free and enslaved. Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake chronicles unsung Marylanders who revolutionized an industry, dreamed beyond their circumstance and are still keeping this tradition alive today.
Speaker: Alexis Aggrey is a director/producer who has worked with public television, cable, and museum clients for more than 15 years, creating documentary content that educates and inspires.
Register Here
Delaware Humanities funding acknowledgement
History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

History Revival: A Culinary History of Southern Delaware
2024-11-08 17:00 - 18:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Presentation: Historic farms and waterways crisscross Southern Delaware, connecting its residents to a set of rich culinary traditions. The original Nanticoke inhabitants baked hearty johnny cakes and hunted wild game. Hungry for a taste of home, German settlers developed scrapple from local ingredients. Today’s home cooks and chefs draw their bounty from the land and sea for a distinct, seasonal cuisine. With recipes for regional favorites like beach plum jelly and chicken with slippery dumplings, author Denise Clemons will explore the diverse history of food in Southern Delaware
Speaker: Denise Clemons holds a bachelor of arts degree in biopsychology from Vassar College and a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University. She spent the early years of her career as an executive in the technology industry, then turned to the nonprofit arena,focusing on museums. She serves on the boards of trustees for the Rehoboth Art League and the Lewes Historical Society. She is past regent of the Col. David Hall Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and serves the society at the state and national levels.
Clemons has written a weekly food column for the Cape Gazette newspaper since 2005, and her award-winning book, “A Culinary History of Southern Delaware,” was published by the History Press. She has published fiction, nonfiction and poetry in journals, chapbooks and anthologies. She conducts writing workshops, cooking demonstrations and history lectures across the region.
Register Here
Delaware Humanities funding acknowledgement
History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Friends of Folk Concert Series: Chris English Duo
2024-11-08 19:30 - 20:30 | Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE, 19901
Chris English offers a combination of deep traditional acoustic blues and solid original material. Delta blues is his forte, singing, playing guitar and harp, stamping out the time on an old wooden Coca Cola crate. He uses vintage guitars from the 20’s and ’30’s to replicate the sound and feeling of the blues he has studied and loves. Chris performs solo, as a duo and with a full band. For this show, Chris and his son Grayson on bass will perform as a duo, playing mostly original music and a few blues standards. Grayson is a multi-instrumentalist and graduate of Salisbury University’s music department. He has been playing with Chris since 2008. When he’s not performing, he works repairing instruments, and handcrafting guitar effects pedals.
Learn more on Chris English’s website.

History Revival: Tea on the Delaware
2024-11-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE, 19958
Presentation: The Lewes Historical Society will discuss the history of drinks and drinking in Lewes, Delaware. Topics include coffee and tea in Lewes, as well as meeting places and taverns once in the area and the drinks they served
Speaker: Marcos Salaverria is the Director of Education at the Lewes Historical Society, which promotes and advocates the preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment of the Lewes region through museum exhibits, educational programs, historical research and publications.
Register Here
Delaware Humanities funding acknowledgement
History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Escape New Castle
2024-11-15 18:00 - 19:00 | New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States
Piece together clues left in the Assembly Room as you try to move Delaware’s Capital before the British arrive in this exciting escape room!
Rooms will run from 6:00 to 6:30 PM and 6:30 to 7:00 PM. Rooms are limited to one group per session, and groups must be limited to 6 people or less. Children older than 10 years old are welcome to participate if supervised by an adult.
Registration is required and reservations can be made by contacting New Castle Court House via email: ncchmuseum@delaware.gov. Reservations are first come, first served.
