John Dickinson Plantation

Burial Ground Identified

For additional information please go to our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Photo of the log'd dwelling at the John Dickinson Plantation — Log’d dwelling at the John Dickinson Plantation. The building is a replica of the type of housing inhabited by the enslaved people at the plantation as well as its tenants and indentured servants. The site’s mansion house is in the background.

John Dickinson, known as the “Penman of the Revolution,” was one of America’s founding fathers who wrote of freedom and liberty for all while holding human beings in bondage. The John Dickinson Plantation was home to a variety of people. We tell the stories of the tenant farmers, indentured servants, free and enslaved Black men, women, and children who lived, worked, and died on the plantation.

Plantation History

More information coming soon …

Photo Gallery

Gallery of the John Dickinson Plantation

Admission

The museum is open to the public and admission is free. Donations are accepted.

Parking

Ample, free parking is available. Accommodations for buses are available.

Accessibility

The first floor of the museum is accessible to people with disabilities.

Hours of Operation – Phase II Reopening

Thursday, Friday and Saturday – Tours at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Advance reservations required by calling 302-739-3277
Tuesday and Wednesday – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Outdoor visitation only (reservations not required) Please note: the mansion is closed at this time.

Directions

We are located southeast of the Dover Air Force Base. From Route 1/113 take Exit 91 for Route 9 Kitts Hummock/Little Creek. Once on Route 9 turn right on Kitts Hummock Road. Follow Kitts Hummock Road to the plantation entrance.

Touring the Plantation

Tours are conducted by historic interpreters. Tours for large groups require prior reservations. For more information on group tours and exhibits, go to our Group Tours and Exhibits and Displays pages.

Address

340 Kitts Hummock Road
Dover, DE 19901

Contact Information

Phone: (302) 739-3277
Email: JDPmuseum@delaware.gov

Phase II Reopening FAQ

Tours of the John Dickinson Plantation are available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The grounds of the museum are open for outdoor visitation on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Forty-five minutes. Please arrive on time because the end of the tour cannot be extended due to the time needed to clean the museum between tours.

Reservations are not required on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the museum grounds are open between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. for outdoor visitation only. Reservations are required for all tours from Thursdays through Saturdays. Reservations are free, and available by calling the John Dickinson Plantation at 302-739-3277.

No, reservations are only available over the phone at this time.

Yes, all visitors and staff must properly wear a cloth face covering at all times while at the museum. Everyone must keep a proper distance of at least six feet from anyone in the building who is not a part of their household. Please follow the instructions of museum staff members, especially when entering and exiting the building. Please do not touch anything in the museum unless it is absolutely necessary.

Once you arrive, please wait in the designated visitor area outside the visitor center. A museum staff member will be outside to greet you five minutes before your scheduled tour time.

Restrooms are not available at the John Dickinson Plantation. Please use the facilities prior to your arrival.

Tours will largely be self-guided, but museum staff will be on-hand to answer any questions and provide additional information. Guided tours of the grounds are available by request, weather permitting.

In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, the tour is limited to the visitor center and the grounds of the plantation. At this time, the mansion is not open due to space constraints. A self-guided or guided tour, your choice, of the grounds is available.

The maximum number of people that can be on a tour is six. One to three households can be on the tour at the same time as long as the total number of people on the tour does not exceed six.

We are considering one household to consist of people who have been living together during the lockdown. You do not have to be related to be considered part of the same household. Family members who live in separate locations do not count as one household.

All hands-on activities have been removed for safety at this time, including the passport stamp. It will return to the visitor center when it is safe to do so.

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