(DOVER, Del.—March 20, 2019)—During the month of April 2019, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be sponsoring 14 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, April 2019
Thursday, April 4, 2019
“The Constitutional Convention and Ratification.” New Castle Court House Museum historical interpreter Nicole Worthley explores the debates, compromises and writing of the U.S. Constitution during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Complimentary coffee and cookies provided. Part one of the 2019 Coffee-Hour Lecture Series—“The Rising Sun: The U.S. Constitution.” The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. 5:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Thursday–Sunday, April 5–14, 2019
Lewes Tulip Celebration. Series of activities at downtown Lewes locations including the Zwaanendael Museum, located at 102 Kings Highway, where tulip arrangements by the Sussex Gardeners and tours will be offered. Sponsored by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. 302-645-8073.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
“Francis Barraud: His Master’s Voice.” 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. Program at 1:30 p.m. Museum open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3262.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
“The Old State House: A Symbol of Government.” Guided tours explore the creation of The Old State House, and how it became a symbol of Delaware’s past and present. First Saturday in the First State program. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
“From Kidnapping to Escaping Enslavement: The Development of New Hypotheses to Study the Underground Railroad in New Castle County, Delaware.” Presentation by Robin Krawitz, assistant research professor at Delaware State University, exploring the unequal punishments imposed on Black and white Delawareans who assisted enslaved people in escaping to freedom. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St. New Castle. Program at 1 p.m. Museum open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Free admission but reservations are requested by calling the museum at 302-323-4453.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Lecture on the bombardment of Lewes. Program by Chuck Fithian, retired curator of archaeology for the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and current instructor and lecturer at Washington College, on the War of 1812 and the bombardment of Lewes in 1813. Part of “Across the Ages to the Edge of the Sea,” a lecture series exploring the history of the Lewes area from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. Program at 2 p.m. on the museum’s 2nd floor (entry via staircase; no elevator). Museum open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Free admission but, due to space restrictions, reservations for the lecture are required by calling 302-645-1148 no later than April 5, 2019.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
“Articles One to Seven.” Historian Dan Pritchett will discuss the powers and duties of the legislative and executive branches and explore the creation of the judiciary and other important powers that are still part of our lives today. Complimentary coffee and cookies provided. Part two of the 2019 Coffee-Hour Lecture Series—“The Rising Sun: The U.S. Constitution.” The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. 5:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Buena Vista Spring Open House. Enjoy the spring gardens, walking trails, light refreshments and self-guided tours of the mansion house. Buena Vista: A Delaware Country Estate, 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), New Castle. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 302-323-4430.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation meeting. Agenda TBA. The Delaware Room, Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dover. 10 a.m.–Noon. 302-736-7417.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
“The Bill of Rights.” Historic-site interpreter Dennis Fisher discusses the Bill of Rights— the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution—and how those rights have been expanded upon, and in some cases, restricted by the courts. Complimentary coffee and cookies provided. Part three of the 2019 Coffee-Hour Lecture Series—“The Rising Sun: The U.S. Constitution.” The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. 5:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Good Friday. All museums of the State of Delaware will be open: The Johnson Victrola Museum and The Old State House, open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; the John Dickinson Plantation, New Castle Court House Museum and the Zwaanendael Museum, open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Dutch-American Friendship Day. Discover Delaware’s Dutch roots and learn how that connection is alive today. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Easter Sunday. All museums of the State of Delaware (the John Dickinson Plantation, the Johnson Victrola Museum, the New Castle Court House Museum, The Old State House and the Zwaanendael Museum) will be closed. 302-744-5054.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
“Amendments 11 to 17.” Delaware Technical and Community College political science instructor Ray Crew explores the changes that have been made to the Constitution over the past 232 years and the challenges that have been faced in affecting those changes. Complimentary coffee and cookies provided. Final segment of the 2019 Coffee-Hour Lecture Series—“The Rising Sun: The U.S. Constitution.” The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. 5:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.
Saturday, April 27, 2019
King’s Day. Celebration of the birthday of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in a program that will also explore royal titles and Delaware’s Dutch connection. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.
Sunday, April 28, 2019
“Festival at the Fort.” Event explores Wilmington’s Colonial-era cultures of the Lenni Lenape, Swedes, Finns, Dutch and English. Activities include children’s games, crafts and vendors, ceremonies, live music, tours of the Kalmar Nyckel and Old Swedes Historic Site, a scavenger hunt, food trucks, and more. Landing ceremony at Fort Christina at 3 p.m. Seventh Street peninsula in Wilmington including Fort Christina National Historic Landmark, 1110 E. Seventh St. Noon–4:30 p.m. General admission free with fees charged for some activities. 302-429-7447.
Exhibits and displays, April 2019
In addition to special programming, the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is sponsoring the following exhibits and displays. Admission is free and open to the public:
Ongoing
“Delaware Railroads: Elegant Travel and Timely Transport.” Exhibit explores the history of rail travel and transport in the First State emphasizing the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad (1832), the Delaware Railroad (1852), the Junction and Breakwater Railroad (1857) and the Queen Anne’s Railroad (1896). Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 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
“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. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.
Ongoing
“Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania.” Online exhibit explores the life of Founding Father John Dickinson on the 250th anniversary of the publication of his essays that described Colonial American grievances with the British government.
Ongoing
“New Castle: Three Forts, One Community.” Exhibit examines the 17th-century struggle for control of New Castle by the Dutch, Swedes and English, and the strongholds that they built to maintain their power. 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
“The Old State House: A True Restoration 1976-2016.” Display explores preservation work that has been conducted since Delaware’s first permanent capitol building in Dover 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
“The Path to Freedom: A History of the Underground Railroad in Delaware.” Exhibit explores Delaware’s role in the clandestine network that transported American slaves to freedom including the true journey of the Hawkins family from bondage in Maryland, through Delaware, to freedom in Pennsylvania. Part II of the display explores some of the challenges faced by Black Delawareans after the Civil War, and showcases Delaware trailblazers who helped break racial and gender barriers. 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. Free admission. 302-323-4453.
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
“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
“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, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.
Ongoing
“When Janie Comes Marching Home: Women’s Fight to Serve.” Display explores the participation of women in America’s armed conflicts from the Revolutionary War to the present, and their fight to be allowed to serve their country during wartime. Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Ave., Dover. Limited visitation hours; call 302-739-9194 before planning a visit.
Administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the five museums of the State of Delaware—the John Dickinson Plantation, the Johnson Victrola Museum, the New Castle Court House Museum, The Old State House and the Zwaanendael Museum—tell the story of the First State’s contributions to the history and culture of the United States. Through tours, exhibits, school programs and hands-on activities, the museums shine a spotlight on Delaware’s unique history and the diverse people who came to live there. The museums are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The New Castle Court House Museum and the John Dickinson Plantation are partner sites of the First State National Historical Park. The Old State House is located on the Dover Green, another partner site of the park. Go to the following for a comprehensive, long-term calendar of division-sponsored events.
The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.
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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-739-7787
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov