School and Group Tour Directory
Tours of the plantation enable visitors to compare and contrast lifestyles of the wealthy Dickinson family with those of tenants, poor whites, enslaved individuals and free Blacks residing in Kent County during the 1700s and early 1800s
School tours complement Delaware’s Social Studies Standards. A special thematic demonstration (weaving, hearth cooking, etc.) can be scheduled for tours.
Tours and other interpretive programs take place during normal operating hours. However, large groups that are interested in a tour must make reservations in advance by e-mailing the site or calling 302-739-3277.
Politics and Plantation
This tour reviews the life of John Dickinson and the people whom he interacted with (tenants, enslaved individuals, tradesmen, merchants) by utilizing the mansion, outbuildings and primary resources.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 3-12)
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
In the Best Manner
Compares and contrasts social differences in ownership of items and stylistic changes in architecture and decorative arts.
Appropriate For: Adults
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
A World Apart
Synthesizes historical data about enslaved individuals and free Blacks residing in Jones Neck.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 3-12)
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
Then and Now
Compares and contrasts historical information about the lifestyles of the Dickinson family, children, tenants, and slaves with modern times.
Appropriate For: Students (Grades K-3)
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
Dickinson Plantation Profiles
Explains the use of primary and secondary resource materials to interpret the plantation’s history.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 5-12)
Length of Time: 2 hours
Then and Now at the Johnson Victrola Museum
While examining everyday objects, students will learn about the history of recorded sound by comparing and contrasting historical items with their modern counterparts at the Johnson Victrola Museum.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Pre-K-Grade 3)
Length of Time: 30 minutes
The Man and His Machines
Students will examine the history of recorded sound through developing a chronology, participation in interactive activities and watching demonstrations at the Johnson Victrola Museum.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grade 4)
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
The Wonderful Talking Machine
Students will examine the development of recorded sound, its social effects and the technologies involved at the Johnson Victrola Museum and will be able to watch demonstrations of authentic talking machines.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 5-12)
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
Johnson and the Golden Age of Music
Students will examine musical artists and their social and political impact. They will compare and contrast contemporary and modern musicians’ viewpoints.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 6-12)
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
Visitors to the New Castle Court House Museum learn about Delaware’s colonial and state history, early European settlements, development of the systems of law and government, and the Delaware Underground Railroad right where these events happened. Group tours of 10 or more visitors must make reservation for museum tours in advance by emailing the site supervisor or calling 302-323-4453. There are no admission fees for tours.
Court House Museum Tours
Museum: A guided tour of the Court House featuring an overview of Delaware’s European settlers, colonial settlements, statehood, Delaware’s laws and government, and Delaware’s place in the development of the nation.
Walking Tours (Reservation Required)
Museum: A guided tour of the Court House featuring an overview of Delaware’s European settlers, colonial settlements, statehood, Delaware’s laws and government, and Delaware’s place in the development of the nation.
Underground Railroad Tour: A guided tour of the Emeline’s Journey exhibit and background on Delaware’s Underground Railroad.
Coming of Age
School Tour
The Declaration of Independence is most famous for its preamble and its broad ideals, but the majority of the document is a list of specific grievances against the King of Great Britain.
Grades: 6-12
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Standards: History 2, 3, and 4 Civics 2 and 3
This program helps students explore the primary source document by translating it into more modern language. It leads students through the document piece-by-piece – focusing on the grievances – and allows them to more deeply connect with the concerns of many British colonists during the American Revolution.
Where the State Began
School Tour
An overview of Delaware Native Americans, European colonization, colonial settlements and hand-on exploration through art, objects, artifact, historical documents, and maps. There is an emphasis on the significance of the Court House in early government and the establishment of the state boundaries.
Grades: 3-5
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Standards: Civics 1, Civics 2, Civics 3, Civics 4, History 1, History 2, History 3, History 4
“We the People”
School Tour
When the Constitution of the United States was drafted in 1787, some people criticized it because while it said what the government could do, it did not clarify what the government could not do. The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791 to address this critique, specifying rights and managing issues faced by people in the early US republic.
Grades: 6-12
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Standards: History 3 and 4 Civics 1, 2, and 3
This program presents students with historical and modern scenarios and asks them to craft amendments to protect rights in these scenarios. Through problem-solving and collaboration, they can learn how the Bill of Rights was created.
Living out of a Trunk
School Tour
Students will explore what Swedish colonists would have brought over to the Americas and the thought process behind bringing those objects. This is a hand on activity as students will be able to handle replicas of objects. This will assist them in discovering the similarities and difference between the Swedish colonists and people today.
Grades: 3-5
Length of Time: 45-60 minutes
Standards: History 2, History 3, History 4 and Geography 3
Committee of Correspondence
School Tour
In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, colonies formed committees of correspondence to oppose British rule. In 1774, Delaware’s committee agreed to send funds to Boston when the British closed their harbor, an act of support that was reflected after New Castle’s Great Fire of 1824.
Grades: 6-12
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Standards: History 2 Civics 4 Geography 3
This program allows students to hear the varied concerns of politicians in Delaware by following scripted roles based on historical meeting notes.
The 1787 Manslaughter Trial of William White
School Tour, Law and Government
Students role play an historic adaptation of the Delaware manslaughter trial of William White. After hearing the witnesses, the jury will have to determine the guilt or innocence of Mr. White remembering that they do not have the benefits of modern forensics.
Grades: 4-6
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Standards: Civics 2, History 3 and History 4
The 1848 Federal Trial of Thomas Garrett
School Tour, Law and Government
Students role-play the 1848 Federal trial of Thomas Garrett, accused of helping the Hawkins family escape slavery on the Underground Railroad.
Grades: 7-12
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Standards: Civics 3 and History 4
Large groups that are interested in a tour must make reservations in advance by calling the First State Heritage Park Reservation Line at 302-739-9194.
A Balancing Act: Delaware and the Constitution
School Tour
Students will participate in and understand the legislative process through participating in an interactive program at The Old State House based on the process of passing a law though the branches of government.
Grades: 5-12
Length of Time: 45 minutes
Minimum Amount of People: 20
Then and Now
School Tour
While examining everyday objects used by people in the colonial period, students will be able to compare and contrast historical items with their modern counterparts within the context of The Old State House.
Grades: Pre-K-3
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Freedom
School Tour
Students can experience the fight for and against freedom by enslaved African Americans and those who knew them through stories, artifacts, documents and the examination of Delawareans in history, in the location where the events took place, The Old State House.
Grades: 4-12
Length of Time: 45 minutes
The People’s House
School Tour
Students will explore Delaware’s historic capitol, The Old State House, and its many functions through the years including a view of Delaware governments in the past. The locations where the branches of government historically conducted business will be pointed out on the building tour.
Grades: 4-12
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
Discovering Shipwreck Secrets
School Tour
Throughout the 18th century, Lewes was a port town at the center of international trade. Using the Roosevelt Inlet Shipwreck, archaeological illustration and analysis, students will draw their own conclusions about this history and the ways that archaeologists and shipwreck artifacts can help us better understand the past.
Grades: 4-5
Length of Time: 20-45 minutes
Minimum Amount of People: 25
Standards: History 2 4-5a, Economics 4 4-5a
A Balancing Act: Delaware and the Constitution
School Tour
During the 18th century, international trade and wars between nations made ships and their crews more important. Students will learn more about this history by standing in sailors’ shoes through interaction with artifacts recovered from the DeBraak, a British Royal Navy ship, which sank off the coast of Lewes in 1798. By seeing, touching, and using the food, tools, and clothing that would have made up a sailor’s daily life students will gain a better understanding of Delaware’s history and Lewes’ place in that more globalized world.
Grades: 4-5
Length of Time: 20-45 minutes
Minimum Amount of People: 25
Standards: Geography 4; Economics 4 4-5a; History 4 4-5a
Virtual Tour of the New Castle Green
Not able to make it to New Castle to view all of the stately trees and historic buildings? No problem, check out the virtual tour of the historic New Castle Green.
Appropriate for: All Ages
“Serenity on the St. Jones: A Formal Garden Restored”
Take a look into the restoration of the formal garden at the John Dickinson Plantation, including photographs of the garden during the restoration process, and a plant list that you can take to your local garden center.
Appropriate for: All Ages
Historic Georgetown Self Guided Walking Tour
A self guided tour map of downtown Georgetown provided by the city.
Appropriate for: All Ages