From the evening of August 28 into the morning of August 29, the Delaware Public Archives welcomed young history explorers and their families for Night at the Archives, the first overnight event ever hosted by the Archives. The event received an enthusiastic response from the community, reaching capacity and generating a waitlist within 48 hours of being announced. 

“Archives are more than preserving the past—they’re about helping people connect with it,” said Maegan Peterman, Director and State Archivist. “Night at the Archives gave kids and their families a chance to experience history in a completely different way: to explore, ask questions, play, and see firsthand what we do and why it matters. I’ve wanted to bring an event like this to the Archives for a long time, and seeing families so excited to spend the night surrounded by Delaware history was incredibly special.”

The evening began with pizza and hands-on activities designed to introduce children to Delaware history and archival work through play and creativity. Participants made feather pens, played the Archives-created Road to Liberty board game, completed a scavenger hunt, and tested their building skills with archive-box Jenga. Participants then settled in for two short films, Harvest of a Diamond State and With a Clack, a Chug and a Splash. Through the films and accompanying worksheets, children and their chaperones learned more about the industries, transportation systems, and communities that have helped shape the First State. 

After snacks and the films, participants divided into two groups for flashlight tours of the Archives. Along the way, staff shared examples of the wide variety of records entrusted to the Delaware Public Archives, including some of the state’s most significant historical documents. Guests learned how records are collected, cared for, and preserved—and why that work is essential to ensuring Delaware’s history remains accessible to future generations. 

Following the flashlight tours, everyone gathered for a bedtime reading of The Lost Locket of Lewes by Ilona E. Holland. The historical mystery carried listeners through a time-traveling adventure spanning two centuries. Then it was time for sleeping bags, lights out, and at least a little sleep—just steps away from one of Delaware’s charter documents, a record tied to the land that would become the First State.

The Delaware Public Archives is grateful to the families who joined us and to everyone whose enthusiasm helped make this first-of-its-kind experience possible. Night at the Archives gave Delawareans a memorable opportunity to explore history together, learn why archival preservation matters, and experience the Archives in an entirely new way. Most importantly, the evening showed that history is not simply something stored in boxes or displayed behind glass—it is something children and families can investigate, interact with, and connect to. 

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