(DOVER, Del.—May 25, 2017)—During the month of June 2017, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be sponsoring 16 special programs at sites across the state. A full schedule is included below. Except where noted, all programs are free and open to the public.
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs special events, June 2017
Saturday, June 3, 2017
“Bring Your Partners: Learn the Art of Old English Country Dancing.” Inter-active program in which visitors will discover the style that was the precursor to square dancing. First Saturday in the First State program. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Programs at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Museum open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
“Man’s Best Friend.” Theatrical presentation explores artist Francis Barraud and his painting of one of the most celebrated canines in the world—Nipper, the dog who adorns the Victor trademark, “His Masters Voice.” First Saturday in the First State program. Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New St., Dover. Programs at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Museum open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3262.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Lecture by retired Justice Randy Holland of the Delaware Supreme Court. Part of the Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion annual meeting. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Reception and tours of the mansion at 4 p.m. followed at 5 p.m. by the annual meeting and Justice Holland’s talk. The group will then adjourn for dinner at Sambo’s Tavern in Leipsic. Cost of the dinner is $50 per person which includes beverages and gratuity. Persons interested in attending may contact gloria.henry@delaware.gov or send a reservation and check to P.O. Box 1110, Dover, DE 19903. 302-739-3277.
Wednesday, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2017
“Lost Off Lewes: The British Warship DeBraak.” Special tour explores the 18th-century history, artifacts and the surviving hull section of this shipwreck. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 9 a.m. Limited seating. Admission $10 (cash or check only). For reservations, e-mail hca_zmevents@delaware.gov or call 302-645-1148.
Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, 2017
Separation Day. Celebration marking the 240th anniversary of Delaware’s separation from Great Britain and Pennsylvania and the formation of the Delaware State. Programs include activities at the New Castle Court House Museum. Downtown New Castle. Friday, 5–10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 302-323-4453 or 302-545-1650.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. Program explores spinning, weaving, knitting and other fabric arts. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Program 1–3 p.m. Museum open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with a presentation by Edwin L. Fountain, vice chair of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, with a special introduction by the newly crowned Miss Delaware. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 302-645-1148.
Monday, June 19, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with Neill Hartley of the American Historical Theatre portraying President Woodrow Wilson. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 302-645-1148.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” “Coming Home, the Toll of War,” a two-part program facilitated by Vietnam-War-veteran Richard Claypoole that compares and contrasts the experiences of veterans returning from World War I and the Vietnam War. Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams St., Lewes. 1–4:15 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Concert by the Delmarva Big Band. Stango Park, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes. 7 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with Keith H. Henley of the American Historical Theatre portraying World War I Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Henry Johnson. Lewes Historical Society complex, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes. 302-645-7670.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with Pat Jordan of The American Historical Theatre portraying American women’s suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt. Lewes Historical Society complex, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes. 302-645-7670.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
“Spring Flower!”: Wine Glass Painting Party. Aided by an art instructor, guests to one of Delaware’s most historic estates will create their own hand-painted wine glass. Event includes light hor d’oeuves and cash bar. Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), New Castle. 6–8 p.m. Admission $40 in advance. Go to the following for tickets. For information, call 302-323-4430.
Exhibits and displays, June 2017
In addition to special programming, the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is sponsoring the following exhibits and displays:
Thru August 2017
“World War II Through the Lens of William D. Willis.” Designed by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the exhibit features photographs taken by Dover, Del. native William D. Willis during World War II. From the collections of the State of Delaware. Middletown Historical Society, 216 N. Broad St., Middletown. Fri., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. First Sat. of each month, 9 a.m.–Noon. Third Wed. of each month, Noon–4 p.m. Other times by appointment. Free admission but call 302-378-7466 before planning a visit.
Thru Dec. 31, 2017
“Rose Color to Gold to Glowing Red: Orville and Ethel Peets in Paris 1913-1914.” Exhibit featuring paintings and painting materials used by the noted Delaware artists Orville Houghton Peets and Ethel Canby Peets. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Ongoing
“Drawing America to Victory: The Persuasive Power of the Arts in World War I.” Online exhibit revolves around 27 World War I posters from the collections of the State of Delaware.
Ongoing
“Discovering Delaware’s Maritime Past.” Display explores the DeBraak, a shipwrecked 18th-century British warship including a photo of the hull recovery, reproductions of items aboard ship, and a model of the vessel. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Ongoing
“Emeline Hawkins: Her Journey From Slavery to Freedom on the Underground Railroad.” Exhibit chronicles the compelling story of Emeline Hawkins and her family and their 1845 odyssey on the Underground Railroad from slavery in Maryland, through Delaware to freedom in Pennsylvania. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.
Ongoing
“Five Stories.” Display explores the varied lives of people who lived on the plantation including Dickinson family members, tenant farmers, tradesmen, free blacks, indentured servants and enslaved individuals. John Dickinson Plantation Welcome Center, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.
Ongoing
“The Old State House: A True Restoration 1976-2016.” Display explores preservation work that has been conducted since Delaware’s first state capitol building was restored to its original appearance in 1976. From the collections of the State of Delaware. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Ongoing
“A Seaborne Citizenry: The DeBraak and Its Atlantic World.” Exhibit utilizes artifacts recovered from His Majesty’s Sloop of War DeBraak, a British warship that sank off the Delaware coast on May 25, 1798 to tell the story of the vessel, its crew and the historical context within which it operated in the Atlantic World of the late 18th century. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Ongoing
Sculpture by Charles Parks. Display of works by the noted Wilmington artist featuring historical and political figures including a Minute Man, and presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.
Ongoing
“Simple Machines.” Exhibit demonstrating the six “simple machines”—incline ramp, screw, wedge, pulley, lever and wheel—that constitute the elementary building blocks of which many more-complicated machines are composed. John Dickinson Plantation Welcome Center, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.
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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov