Division Museums Closed; Special Programs Postponed

DOVER – In accordance with Delaware Gov. John Carney’s declaration of a State of Emergency, the five museums administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be closed beginning on March 24, 2020 and their programs postponed until further notice. The State of Emergency was declared in order to safeguard public health and help control the spread of the coronavirus.

Following are links to information about the division’s five museums. Staff members will be available to answer questions via telephone during the State of Emergency.

Gov. Carney’s State of Emergency also applies to the Buena Vista conference center and other state-owned historical sites managed in partnership with community organizations.

DNREC’s First State Heritage Park First Saturday will host ‘First People of the First State: the Lenape Tribe of Delaware’ on Sept. 1

(Photo: Join the Lenape Tribe of Delaware on The Green on Sept. 1, for a celebration of the tribe’s heritage.)

DOVER – DNREC’s First State Heritage Park will celebrate the “First People of the First State: The Lenape Tribe of Delaware,” for the First State Heritage Park’s monthly “First Saturday in the First State” on Sept. 1. The program will feature a variety of free events and activities.

The First Saturday programs will center on sharing aspects of the Lenape culture. “September is a time for Native-American people to gather in their homelands,” said Nena Todd, site supervisor for the state’s downtown Dover museums. “Traditionally, the coming of cooler weather provided a signal for native peoples to transition from a summer of hunting and fishing to more secure winter lodgings.”

This tradition of seasonal gathering continues in today’s Native-American communities with September serving as a time when families come together to honor their heritage with events such as the “The First People of the First State: A Lenape Celebration of Heritage” that will be held on the Dover Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Here is a list of programs and activities for First Saturday in the First State:

First Saturday – September 1

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Biggs Kids: Birds and Lenape
Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal Street
Celebrate our visiting flock of John James Audubon bird prints and our state’s Native peoples with a special Lenape-inspired bird craft. Feathers will fly! For ages 5-10.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The First People of the First State: A Celebration of Heritage
At The Old State House – 25 The Green
Join the Lenape Tribe of Delaware as they celebrate their culture and Mother Earth with dancing and demonstrations.

10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“Native American Melodies”
Johnson Victrola Museum, 275 S. New Street
In the early 20th century, artists incorporated music found within Native American communities, and recorded it as “The Unique American Sound” for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Listen to these compositions on original talking machines.

Other programs:

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Digging for Old Delaware
John Bell House on The Green, 43 The Green
Roll up your sleeves as you learn the skills of an archaeologist to uncover Delaware’s past.
A Capitol Experience
Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Avenue
Tour Delaware’s state capital building and experience Delaware history. Photo ID is required for all adults entering the building.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Tours of the Governor’s House
At Woodburn – The Governor’s House, 151 King’s Highway
Enjoy guided tours of the official residence of Delaware’s Governor since 1965, and Hall House, the Governor’s guest house.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Trades of The Green Walking Tour
Meet at the John Bell House on The Green, 43 The Green
In honor of Labor Day, explore the many skilled and unskilled trades once practiced on The Green in the past.
Hands-On Archaeology
John Bell House on The Green, 43 The Green
Get down and dirty with state park archeologists and take part in an actual archaeological dig. Experience the thrill of discovery as you uncover small pieces of Dover’s past. For ages 10 and older. Weather dependent.

10:30 a.m.

Trench Art
Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Former director of the Air Mobility Command Museum Michael Leister will talk about the popular art, created out of used military equipment from the trenches during World War I.

1:30 – 4:00 p.m.

The Once and Future Courthouse
Kent County Courthouse, 38 The Green, Courtroom #1
From the 1690s to the present, learn how this site went from a courthouse to a hotel and back again.

Admission to all park sites and programs is free. Centrally-located free parking is available at the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries, located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North. For more information about “First Saturday” events and all First State Heritage Park programs, please call 302-739-9194 or visit www.destateparks.com/heritagepark.

The First State Heritage Park is Delaware’s first urban “park without boundaries,” linking historic and cultural sites in the city that has been the seat of state government since 1777. The park is a partnership of state agencies under the leadership of DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, working in collaboration with city and county government, nonprofit organizations and the private sector.

Contact: Sarah Zimmerman, DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, First State Heritage Park, 302-739-9194 or sarah.zimmerman@delaware.gov.

Vol. 48, No. 231

Delaware’s State Museum System Awarded National Accreditation

NEW CASTLE – Delaware’s state museum system has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest recognition afforded to museums in the United States. Administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the system includes five museums as well as the archaeological and historic objects collections curated by the state.

Gov. John Carney today joined museum staff, Delaware historians and friends of the museum community for a special ceremony recognizing this achievement at the New Castle Court House Museum.

“The rich history on display in our state’s museums ties us together as a community and enhances the quality of life here for Delawareans and for those who visit Delaware,” said Gov. Carney. “We’ve always known that these institutions and the dedicated folks who run them are top notch. Now we have a true seal of approval that assures all of us that we can count on a rewarding experience when we visit Delaware’s state museums.”

The newly accredited state museums include the John Dickinson Plantation near Kitts Hummock; the Johnson Victrola Museum and Old State House in downtown Dover; the New Castle Court House Museum; and the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes. State museums are under the stewardship of the Department of State.

“I know how hard the staff of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs worked to earn this accreditation,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock. “The people of Delaware can be proud of the commitment and passion that they bring to telling the story of Delaware’s unique history and its place in the history of the nation and the world.”

Developed and sustained by museum professionals, the American Alliance of Museums accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

“This is a historic achievement for Delaware and the people who visit our state museums every day,” said Tim Slavin, director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. “It’s our job to continue to ensure that we meet the high standards that have been set, and keep our promise to preserve the state’s history for future generations as well as those who have gone before us.”

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, approximately 1,000 currently are accredited. Delaware’s state museums join only two other museums accredited in Delaware, Hagley Museum and Library and Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library.

Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum must first conduct a year of self-study and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. An independent and autonomous body of museum professionals then considers the self-study and visiting-committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

About the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the Delaware Department of State. 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 the administration and operation of five museums, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, management of historic properties across Delaware as well as the management of a conference center and the operation of the State Historic Preservation Office.

About the American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance is the only organization representing the entire scope of the broad museum community. For more information, visit http://www.aam-us.org.

Delaware’s State Museums Awarded National Accreditation

DOVER – The five museums operated by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs have been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest recognition afforded to museums in the United States.

“Achieving accreditation is the gold standard of the museum profession” said Timothy Slavin, director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. “This achievement is doubly significant because we persevered and achieved it during trying economic times for the State of Delaware. Across our entire division, we maintained focus and effectiveness and our role as cultural stewards was recognized.”

Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies and the museum-going public. The newly accredited state museums include the John Dickinson Plantation near Kitts Hummock; the Johnson Victrola Museum and Old State House in downtown Dover; the New Castle Court House Museum; and the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes. State museums are under the stewardship of the Department of State. (See the attached documents for detailed information about the State of Delaware’s five museums and its archaeological and historic-objects collections.)

“Our state museums, and the collections they house, are treasures to be appreciated by Delawareans and visitors alike, and the dedicated team at the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs serve as excellent caretakers,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock. “The people of Delaware can be proud of the work they do and the rich historic and cultural legacy they help preserve and safeguard for all of us.”

Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over 45 years, the American Alliance of Museums accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, approximately 1,000 currently are accredited. Delaware’s state museums join only two other museums accredited in Delaware.

Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. An independent and autonomous body of museum professionals then considers the self-study and visiting-committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.