John Dickinson Plantation named a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
A Site of Conscience is a place of memory that confronts both the history of what happened there and its contemporary legacies.
John Dickinson Plantation to add area of reflection for visitors
Project supported, in part, by a $5,000 grant from
the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Locating Delaware’s DuPont “Colored” Schools
The Story of the DuPont “Colored” Schools In the 1920s -1930s, as part of a large-scale rebuilding campaign spearheaded by the Delaware School Auxiliary Association (DSAA), industrialist and philanthropist Pierre S. du Pont, funded the construction of modern, architect designed schools across the state of Delaware. The campaign included 90 schools for African American and […]
Museums of the State of Delaware open for Juneteenth
Holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.
Never to be forgotten or lost again
John Dickinson Plantation burial ground for enslaved men, women and children, and for free African Americans who died on the site, to be preserved and interpreted.
Public outreach aims to engage a new community at John Dickinson Plantation
The division is seeking descendants of those who lived, worked and died at the John Dickinson Plantation in an effort to tell the stories of Indigenous and free, indentured and enslaved people of color who have been overlooked in historical accounts.
Schedule of Events, September 10, 2022
New Castle Court House Museum Facebook livestream and in-person on the New Castle Green All programs are free. Programs are offered in-person and some via Facebook livestream. “Songs of a Grateful People” — Performance by Dr. Valarie Boyer – 12 p.m. Writer, educator and actor Dr. Valarie Boyer will sing and talk about the Underground […]
Schedule of Events, September 11, 2022
New Castle Court House Museum Facebook livestream and in-person in The New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal due to the weather All programs are free and are offered in-person and some via Facebook livestream. Her Time 20XX – 12 p.m. Roseria Macera directs Her Time 20XX, an all-women string orchestra. Join this program in-person […]
Schedule of Events, September 8, 2022
Zwaanendael Museum in-person and livestreamed on You Tube All programs are free and open to the public. Travelling Victrola Demonstration – 12:00 p.m. Join former historical interpreter Kay Powell as she demonstrates this old-fashioned music machine. Join this program in person at Zwaanendael Park next to the Zwaanendael Museum. “Hamilton, More Than a Musical” — […]
Schedule of Events, September 9, 2022
Zwaanendael Museum in-person and livestreamed on You Tube All programs are free and open to the public. Travelling Victrola Demonstration – 12:00 p.m. Join former historical interpreter Kay Powell as she demonstrates this old-fashioned music machine. Join this program in person at Zwaanendael Park next to the Zwaanendael Museum. “Rosedale Beach” — Lecture by Tamara Burks […]
Sharing Stories: Public invited to explore new Plantation Stories Project website
A new website featuring 131 names shares the stories of the enslaved, indentured, freedom-seeking and free Black people who lived, worked and died at and near the John Dickinson Plantation.
Statement about unauthorized media images of the John Dickinson Plantation burial ground
Dignity of those interred must be respected.
Then & Now: Black History Highlights features Rodney Hotel and Aunt Mary’s
“Then & Now: Black History Highlights of Delaware” explores the historical significance of The Rodney and present-day impact of Aunt Mary’s.
Then & Now: Hockessin Colored School #107
“Then & Now: Black History Highlights of Delaware” explores the historical significance of a one-room school for African American children.
Then & Now: Black History Highlights of Delaware explores the impact of Redding and Stevenson
“Then & Now: Black History Highlights of Delaware” explores the impact of two iconic Black figures in Delaware history and today: Louis L. Redding and Bryan Stevenson.
We support the elimination of racial injustice, racism, discrimination, and exclusionary history. We believe that Black lives matter.
We strive to practice inclusive history. History is not a series of one-sided, happy stories. It is a combination of uncomfortable truths, differing perspectives, and difficult narratives. At the John Dickinson Plantation in Dover, for example, we tell the story of the enslaved, indentured, and free Black men, women, and children who worked, and died, […]