For generations, Brinkley Hill was a little-known yet remarkable free Black community in Delaware, playing a vital role as a stop on the Underground Railroad and making significant contributions to the local community. That legacy will be recognized with the unveiling of a new State of Delaware Historical Marker at the site of the historic Brinkley Hill settlement on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Brinkley Hill was home to brothers William and Nathaniel Brinkley, who aided Harriet Tubman and countless freedom seekers on their journey to liberty. As community leaders, the Brinkleys helped establish a schoolhouse in 1867, and William Brinkley was a founder of Zion AME Church. Their leadership and dedication continue to have a lasting impact on the community today.

The unveiling ceremony will bring together local and state leaders, historians, descendants of the Brinkley family, and representatives from the Delaware Public Archives, which administers the Historical Markers Program.

The new marker commemorates the history of Brinkley Hill and highlights the importance of ongoing research in exploring Delaware’s rich and unique histories.

The unveiling will take place at Caesar Rodney High School, 239 Old North Road, Camden, DE 19934, in front of the tennis courts.

About the State of Delaware Historical Markers Program:

The State of Delaware Historical Markers Program traces its origins to 1929, when Governor C. Douglass Buck appointed a committee to review Delaware’s notable historic sites and develop a way to identify them. In 1931, the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. The markers in each county were numbered sequentially as they were proposed, preceded by NC (New Castle), K (Kent), and S (Sussex) to note the county in which they were located. Since the 1930s, the State of Delaware has erected over 700 markers. The Delaware Public Archives has administered the Historical Markers Program since 1990.

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

Delaware artist Paula Brown invites viewers to reconnect with the beauty, light, and emotional resonance of the natural world.

Wilmington, Del. (October 1, 2025) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present “IN-JOY: Nature’s Soul Story”, a solo exhibition of works by Delaware artist Paula Brown. The show will be on view from October 3–31, 2025, with a free opening reception on Friday, October 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In this new body of work, Brown channels her passion for the natural world into vibrant landscapes, seascapes, and cloudscapes created in soft pastels and oils. Her art captures the expression of light and the unique energy radiating from each subject – land, sea, sky, and earth.

Brown’s inspiration for the exhibition stems from her travels across national parks, nature preserves, and scenic sites along the East and West Coasts. From the sunrises over Atlantic beaches to Yosemite’s rushing waterfalls, from the calm of Pacific harbors to the stormy skies above Winterthur, she brings forward the “soul light” and emotional resonance of every environment she paints.

“I approach nature as a storyteller,” said the Brown. “These paintings invite us to listen to the rhythms of the natural world and remind us of the joy and peace found in connecting with it.”

Describing her artistic philosophy, Brown refers to herself as a “nature whisperer.” She is captivated by the shifting seasons, the moods of weather, and the power of light. Through her work, she seeks to share the messages of strength, joy, curiosity, and peace that she perceives in the natural world. Each canvas becomes a heart-felt expression—what she calls “soul story telling”—that inspires viewers to connect more deeply with the environment and recognize its beauty and fragility.

About the Artist

Paula Brown calls herself a “Heartist,” because her paintings express and reflect the light and heart of nature. Her muse is nature. Her joy is to capture its soul essence, moods, light, shapes; the patterns that draw us into valuable healing connection within its world. Paula’s work has gained her national and international awards as well as signature status in both Philadelphia and Maryland Pastel Societies. Her most recent honor is being named a 2025 Fellow by the Del Arts Council. She has taught workshops and classes in pastels, oils, line/watercolor Heart Scape Journaling, on both coasts from Los Angeles, CA to Wilmington, DE.

About the Mezzanine Gallery

The Mezzanine Gallery, located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building (820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE), is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The gallery highlights the work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellows, showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent throughout the year. For more information, visit https://arts.delaware.gov/mezzanine-gallery.

Images in the banner: “Cotton Candy Seaside Stroll” (2024), soft pastels, 12”x9”. “River Dance” (2023), soft pastels, 16”x20”. “Star Struck” (2025), oil, 20”x16”.

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Tourism Office is announcing the application timeline for the next round of the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund, established through the FY26 Bond and Capital Improvements Act. The fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that host events attracting out-of-state visitors and contributing to state and local economies.

Applications will be accepted from November 12th through December 12th, 2025. An informational webinar will be held Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. Registration is required. The link can be found here or on our Delaware Tourism website under Sports Planners. Reviews take place from mid-December through early in 2026 and will be followed by two public meetings. Funding is expected to be awarded in March. Ten million dollars has again been allocated for this round.

Delaware has increasingly become a destination for national sporting events, including the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championships, USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, WKA National Muay Thai & Kickboxing Championships, the annual Senior League Softball World Series, the 2025 PBA Season Opener, and the state’s first PGA Tour event, the 2022 BMW Championship.

“Sports tourism is a $128 billion global industry that is continuously growing, and Delaware faces stiff competition from neighboring states to attract and retain sporting events,” said Ryan Wolfe, Sports Sales Leader at the Delaware Tourism Office. “This fund helps ensure Delaware remains competitive by investing in the facilities that allow us to bring prestigious tournaments and championships to the First State.”

Additionally, says Wolfe, with Philadelphia set to host several major sporting events in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup, the Tourism Office will be working to draw sports professionals across state lines to show them what Delaware has to offer.

“Sports tourism is a significant economic driver for Delaware, and we are thrilled to be able to reopen the program for new applications,” said Deputy Director Jaimie Watts. “These facilities contribute greatly to our state’s economic growth and help promote Delaware as a prime destination for out-of-state visitors. By continuing to invest in this industry, we are helping strengthen our tourism sector and create long-term benefits for communities across the state.”

During its first two rounds, the Delaware Tourism Office received 35 applications requesting more than $101 million and awarded $21.3 million to nine sports tourism facilities across the state. Past awardees have used the funding to add courts and fields, as well as upgrade and modernize existing facilities.

More information about the program, including details on prior awardees, can be found on the Delaware Tourism Office website.

The Delaware Tourism Office, a division of the Delaware Division of Small Business, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware.

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Media Contact
Andrea Wojcik
Director of Communications
O: (302) 672-6802; C: (302) 554-0060
andrea.wojcik@delaware.gov

Join us for a special presentation with award-winning journalist, scholar, author, and social activist Juan González as he explores the untold stories of Latino migration and the contributions of immigrants to the United States.

Wednesday, October 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Delaware Technical Community College, Carter Partnership Center, Room 529
21179 College Drive, Georgetown, DE

Thursday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m.
Delaware History Museum, Copeland Room
504 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE

González, author of Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America and co-host of Democracy Now!, brings more than fifty years of experience as a journalist and historian. His investigative reporting and scholarship highlight the resilience and sacrifices of immigrant communities that have shaped the nation.

Both events are free and open to the public.

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

The Delaware Public Archives is excited to introduce Road To Liberty, an original board game designed to teach kids about Delaware’s role in the Revolutionary War. Created by Archives staff, the game combines fun, quick play—about 10 minutes per round—with real historical documents from the Archives’ collections.

Players move their pieces along the board, draw Action and Chance cards, and navigate shortcuts, setbacks, and historical challenges as they race toward victory. All components, including the 20 x 20-inch gameboard and cards, are available as PDFs for easy printing and play at home or in classrooms. The board can also be printed across multiple sheets for simpler assembly.

Families and educators can access the full game materials here: https://archives.delaware.gov/educator-resources/#roadtoliberty, or contact the Archives to schedule a tour and try Road To Liberty in person!

Discover history, strategy, and a little Revolutionary War adventure with Road To Liberty!