The Delaware Public Archives presents, Not Today, PA! at the place where it happened, The New Castle Court House Museum

In 2026, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which marked the colonies’ break from British rule.  It also marks the 250th anniversary of the State of Delaware declaring its independence from Pennsylvania. This presentation will examine the early days of the Lower Counties on the Delaware under the proprietary governance of William Penn and his successors, delving into the conditions that ultimately led to separation. We reflect on the challenges faced by the nascent state as it recovered from the economic and social tolls of the War of Independence and how “Separation Day” came to be celebrated in the City of New Castle as a commemoration of the founding of the State of Delaware.