Diverse Histories Virtual Exhibit Launches, Expanding Delaware’s Story Beyond 1776

As Delaware prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, a new virtual exhibit is broadening the story of the First State—looking beyond a single moment in 1776 to the people and communities who shaped Delaware across centuries.

 

Delaware 250 has officially launched the Delaware’s Diverse Histories virtual exhibit, an online experience that highlights voices often underrepresented in traditional Revolutionary-era narratives.

 

Long before independence was declared, the land that is now Delaware was home to the Lenape and Nanticoke peoples. During the Revolutionary era and beyond, immigrants, Native people, and Black Delawareans—both free and enslaved—played essential roles in the state’s political, military, economic, religious, and cultural life.

 

Rather than treating 1776 as the full story, the exhibit frames it as a beginning. Through personal stories and historical context, visitors are invited to explore how Delawareans from many backgrounds contributed to—and continue to shape—the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union.

 

Designed as an accessible and educational resource, the exhibit offers opportunities for reflection and learning for Delawareans, educators, students, and visitors alike.

 

The Diverse Histories virtual exhibit is now live and can be explored at: diversehistories.delaware250.org/.

 

The exhibit was made possible in part by support from Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the exhibit do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

For more information about Delaware 250 or to learn more about events and other items of interest, visit delaware250.org.

Delaware 250 to Host “Celebrate Delaware” Black-Tie Celebration at Hotel Du Pont

As Delaware prepares to mark America’s 250th anniversary, Delaware 250 is inviting residents from across the First State to gather for an evening of reflection and celebration.

 

On Saturday, April 18, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Delaware 250 will host Celebrate Delaware, a black-tie event at the historic Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington.

 

Designed as an immersive experience, the evening will unfold across three distinct rooms—each dedicated to one of Delaware’s counties: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Guests will enjoy county-inspired food, drinks, and entertainment that highlight the character, culture, and contributions of each region.

 

Admission is $250 per person, and sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and organizations interested in supporting Delaware 250’s statewide programming and educational initiatives.

 

Celebrate Delaware is one of many events planned as part of the state’s semiquincentennial commemoration. Residents and visitors are encouraged to explore the official Delaware 250 Events Calendar to discover programs taking place throughout the state. Organizations are also invited to submit their events for inclusion.

 

For reservations, sponsorship information, or to view the statewide events calendar, visit delaware250.org.

First Saturday Program Explores Black Family History at the Delaware Public Archives

Join the Delaware Public Archives in Dover on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. for the next First Saturday Program, Tracing Black Family Histories at the Delaware Public Archives, presented by archivist Leah Greer.

Researching Black family history can present unique challenges, particularly when tracing ancestors into the 19th century and earlier, before the passage of the 13th Amendment. This presentation will introduce resources available at the Delaware Public Archives for researching Black family history in Delaware, from the present day through the state’s earliest records. Attendees will learn strategies for uncovering information about formerly enslaved individuals, free Black communities, and family connections that may not appear in traditional genealogical sources.

This free program will take place at the Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North, Dover.

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives, visit archives.delaware.gov.

Delaware Public Archives Explores Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy in New Digital Exhibit

The Delaware Public Archives is presenting a new digital exhibit exploring one of the most influential conservation and employment programs of the 20th century. Roots of Renewal: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Delaware examines how a New Deal initiative launched during the Great Depression transformed both the state’s landscape and the lives of the men who served.

Created under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) combined job training, economic relief, and environmental restoration. In Delaware, CCC companies built embankments and roads, cleared wetlands, developed public lands, and laid the groundwork for spaces that remain vital today.

The exhibit highlights both the projects and the people behind them. Visitors will encounter stories of Delaware’s all-Black Company 3269-C and its work at what became Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, mosquito-control innovator Colonel Wilbur S. Corkran, and artist Jack Lewis, who captured daily life in CCC camps.

 

Roots of Renewal will be on display in the lobby of the Delaware Public Archives from January 9 through April 30, 2026. A complimentary 28-page booklet featuring exhibit text and images is available in the lobby, with a downloadable PDF version at: https://archivesfiles.delaware.gov/ebooks/Roots-of-renewal-CCC-in-DE.pdf

 

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives and other exhibits and events, visit archives.delaware.gov.

Delaware 250 Awards Final Grants, Bringing Total Funding to $334,000 Statewide

As Delaware prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, Delaware 250 has completed its final grant cycle, awarding an additional $20,000 to support Semiquincentennial projects across the state. With this round of funding, the program has distributed a total of $334,000 to 47 organizations in all three counties.

 

The grants support a wide range of historical, cultural, educational, and preservation initiatives designed to interpret and share Delaware’s history during the upcoming anniversary year.

 

In the final grant round, six organizations received funding:
Delaware 250 established the grant program to help historical organizations, cultural institutions, and nonprofit groups develop meaningful and inclusive programming for the Semiquincentennial.

 

“This milestone anniversary is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Erik Raser-Schramm, Director of Delaware 250. “These grants help ensure that organizations of all sizes, across all three counties, have the resources to tell Delaware’s stories in creative, thoughtful, and welcoming ways.”

 

A key goal of Delaware 250 is encouraging collaboration and broad participation in the anniversary commemoration.
“Delaware 250 is truly a statewide effort,” Raser-Schramm said. “We want community groups, municipalities, nonprofits, schools, and cultural organizations throughout Delaware to see themselves as part of this celebration and to share their programs and events so the Semiquincentennial reflects the diversity and creativity of communities across the First State.”

 

For more information about the grant program, a full list of recipients, and details on submitting events and programs, visit delaware250.org.