The Delaware Public Archives has unveiled a new exhibition in its lobby, “Celebrating African American History in The First State” that features every State of Delaware Historical Marker related to Black history and the significance behind them.

“With this display, we honor some oft overlooked accomplishments of Black Delawareans in every area of endeavor of Delaware’s history including civil rights, social change, politics, education, the arts, and athletics,” said Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Delaware Public Archives Director. “We hope all Delawareans will join us as we recognize and celebrate the great legacy of Delaware’s rich African American history through our Marker program.”

The Delaware Historical Marker Program began in 1931 when the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a permanent commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. These markers recognize their historic significance based on their influence, effect, or impact on the course of history or cultural development in Delaware. Eighty-eight official State of Delaware Historical Markers recognize African American landmarks, milestones and achievements across the state.

As part of the display, visitors to the Archives can take home a 32-page, full-color booklet which contains locations, photos and information on each historical marker that is related to Delaware Black history. Large maps on display of each individual county and the city of Wilmington provides visitors with a visual location of where the markers are located, and a video presentation of actual photos of these markers will be shown.

The Delaware Public Archives is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Dover. The display is free and open to the public until mid-March 2023.

For those unable to personally visit the Delaware Public Archives, an e-book version “Celebrating African American History in the First State” will be available on the agency website at www.archives.delaware.gov.

You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.

The State of Delaware Historical Markers Program will unveil its newest Historical Marker for the Surf Safety Line at Rehoboth Beach.

This dedication will be held on Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 10:00 AM at:
The Bandstand
1 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971

The Surf Safety Line was a project funded by the women of the Village Improvement Association (VIA) to assist bathers while they were in the ocean at Rehoboth Beach.

Surf safety lines were ropes that were anchored along the shore and attached to floating buoys in the ocean to assist bathers to pull themselves along the line to go out, and then return safely to the shore.

The following distinguished guests will be in attendance:
The Honorable Peter C. Schwarzkopf, Speaker, Delaware House of Representatives & Historical Marker Sponsor
The Honorable Ernesto “Ernie” B. López, Delaware Senate & Historical Marker Sponsor
The Honorable Stan Mills, Mayor, City of Rehoboth Beach
Ann Sebastian, President, Village Improvement Association
Carole Suchanek, Past-President, Village Improvement Association
Barbara Beatty, Constituent, Village Improvement Association