Cultural and Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS)
These resources include: National Historic Landmarks Buildings, sites and districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places Historic properties that have been surveyed Aerial imagery and survey reports CHRIS is available at https://chris-users.delaware.gov/. Not all information is available to the public. Additional services are available to agencies and consulting firms, through a password-protected webpage. […]
Research Topics
The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in the State of Delaware, 1781-1783: Project Historian, Robert A. Selig, Ph.D.
Abbott’s Mill
Abbott’s Mill is located two miles southwest of Milford. The mill was added to the National Register on May 17, 1979. Milling was once a major part of the agricultural economy in Delaware. Anywhere that it was possible, a mill existed because grains such as wheat and corn were the chief crops. It has survived […]
Fire Control Towers
Fort Miles was constructed using $22 million. It was said to have been not only highly secure, but highly secretive. In 1972, Courtland W. Warrington wrote in “A Mighty Fort Called Miles” that it was “a huge fortress concealed deep in the sand dunes.” The towers were obviously built above ground, but bunkers heavily loaded […]
Indian River Life Saving Station
In 1872 Congress established the Life-Saving Service, and the plans for the structure were drawn two years later by the federal government. The station at Indian River was not the only building to be constructed under the plan; four stations were in operation by 1882. Originally the station was located beyond the dunes on the […]
Milford Railroad Station
Located along the railroad tracks in Milford, the station is no longer used by the freight line which runs directly behind it. The property was first shown on an atlas in 1859. It consisted of a turntable, an engine house, and a dip. Nine years later, the Beer’s Atlas displayed the engine house and station. […]
Todd House
Home of the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office The Todd House, located at 15 The Green in Dover, was built in 1859 by Henry Todd. Mr. Todd owned the two brick buildings on the northeast side of the Green, now known as the Kirk and Short Buildings, for seventeen years. Both properties are listed in […]
Delaware State Review Board
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, set up the federal-state partnership program in historic preservation. It requires that each state maintain a qualified State Review Board as the advisory body to the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). The SHPO is the state official appointed by the governor to oversee and implement the […]
National Historic Landmarks
Less than 2,500 historical places bear this national distinction. Thirteen of these unique landmarks are located in the state of Delaware. The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs owns three of these properties—Fort Christina in Wilmington, the New Castle Court House in New Castle and the John Dickinson Plantation near Dover—all of which are […]
Unmarked Human Remains
Discovery of Forgotten Burials and Cemeteries What if you uncover or see remains that you think are human?First, leave them in place if at all possible. If you think the remains are recent in origin, perhaps due to accident or criminal action, notify the police (911) immediately. If not, call the Division of Historical and […]
