(DOVER, Del.—May 25, 2017)—During the month of June 2017, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be sponsoring 16 special programs at sites across the state. A full schedule is included below. Except where noted, all programs are free and open to the public.

Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs special events, June 2017

Saturday, June 3, 2017
“Bring Your Partners: Learn the Art of Old English Country Dancing.” Inter-active program in which visitors will discover the style that was the precursor to square dancing. First Saturday in the First State program. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Programs at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Museum open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.

Saturday, June 3, 2017
“Man’s Best Friend.” Theatrical presentation explores artist Francis Barraud and his painting of one of the most celebrated canines in the world—Nipper, the dog who adorns the Victor trademark, “His Masters Voice.” First Saturday in the First State program. Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New St., Dover. Programs at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Museum open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3262.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Lecture by retired Justice Randy Holland of the Delaware Supreme Court. Part of the Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion annual meeting. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Reception and tours of the mansion at 4 p.m. followed at 5 p.m. by the annual meeting and Justice Holland’s talk. The group will then adjourn for dinner at Sambo’s Tavern in Leipsic. Cost of the dinner is $50 per person which includes beverages and gratuity. Persons interested in attending may contact gloria.henry@delaware.gov or send a reservation and check to P.O. Box 1110, Dover, DE 19903. 302-739-3277.

Wednesday, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2017
“Lost Off Lewes: The British Warship DeBraak.” Special tour explores the 18th-century history, artifacts and the surviving hull section of this shipwreck. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 9 a.m. Limited seating. Admission $10 (cash or check only). For reservations, e-mail hca_zmevents@delaware.gov or call 302-645-1148.

Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, 2017
Separation Day. Celebration marking the 240th anniversary of Delaware’s separation from Great Britain and Pennsylvania and the formation of the Delaware State. Programs include activities at the New Castle Court House Museum. Downtown New Castle. Friday, 5–10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 302-323-4453 or 302-545-1650.

Saturday, June 10, 2017
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. Program explores spinning, weaving, knitting and other fabric arts. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Program 1–3 p.m. Museum open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Sunday, June 18, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with a presentation by Edwin L. Fountain, vice chair of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, with a special introduction by the newly crowned Miss Delaware. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 302-645-1148.

Monday, June 19, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with Neill Hartley of the American Historical Theatre portraying President Woodrow Wilson. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 302-645-1148.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” “Coming Home, the Toll of War,” a two-part program facilitated by Vietnam-War-veteran Richard Claypoole that compares and contrasts the experiences of veterans returning from World War I and the Vietnam War. Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams St., Lewes. 1–4:15 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Concert by the Delmarva Big Band. Stango Park, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes. 7 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with Keith H. Henley of the American Historical Theatre portraying World War I Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Henry Johnson. Lewes Historical Society complex, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes. 302-645-7670.

Thursday, June 22, 2017
“19th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show—‘Service, Suffrage, & Swing: World War I Era in Delaware.’” Day-long series of activities culminating with Pat Jordan of The American Historical Theatre portraying American women’s suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt. Lewes Historical Society complex, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes. 302-645-7670.

Thursday, June 22, 2017
“Spring Flower!”: Wine Glass Painting Party. Aided by an art instructor, guests to one of Delaware’s most historic estates will create their own hand-painted wine glass. Event includes light hor d’oeuves and cash bar. Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), New Castle. 6–8 p.m. Admission $40 in advance. Go to the following for tickets. For information, call 302-323-4430.

Exhibits and displays, June 2017
In addition to special programming, the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is sponsoring the following exhibits and displays:

Thru August 2017
“World War II Through the Lens of William D. Willis.” Designed by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the exhibit features photographs taken by Dover, Del. native William D. Willis during World War II. From the collections of the State of Delaware. Middletown Historical Society, 216 N. Broad St., Middletown. Fri., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. First Sat. of each month, 9 a.m.–Noon. Third Wed. of each month, Noon–4 p.m. Other times by appointment. Free admission but call 302-378-7466 before planning a visit.

Thru Dec. 31, 2017
“Rose Color to Gold to Glowing Red: Orville and Ethel Peets in Paris 1913-1914.” Exhibit featuring paintings and painting materials used by the noted Delaware artists Orville Houghton Peets and Ethel Canby Peets. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
“Drawing America to Victory: The Persuasive Power of the Arts in World War I.” Online exhibit revolves around 27 World War I posters from the collections of the State of Delaware.

Ongoing
“Discovering Delaware’s Maritime Past.” Display explores the DeBraak, a shipwrecked 18th-century British warship including a photo of the hull recovery, reproductions of items aboard ship, and a model of the vessel. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
“Emeline Hawkins: Her Journey From Slavery to Freedom on the Underground Railroad.” Exhibit chronicles the compelling story of Emeline Hawkins and her family and their 1845 odyssey on the Underground Railroad from slavery in Maryland, through Delaware to freedom in Pennsylvania. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Ongoing
“Five Stories.” Display explores the varied lives of people who lived on the plantation including Dickinson family members, tenant farmers, tradesmen, free blacks, indentured servants and enslaved individuals. John Dickinson Plantation Welcome Center, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Ongoing
“The Old State House: A True Restoration 1976-2016.” Display explores preservation work that has been conducted since Delaware’s first state capitol building was restored to its original appearance in 1976. From the collections of the State of Delaware. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.

Ongoing
“A Seaborne Citizenry: The DeBraak and Its Atlantic World.” Exhibit utilizes artifacts recovered from His Majesty’s Sloop of War DeBraak, a British warship that sank off the Delaware coast on May 25, 1798 to tell the story of the vessel, its crew and the historical context within which it operated in the Atlantic World of the late 18th century. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
Sculpture by Charles Parks. Display of works by the noted Wilmington artist featuring historical and political figures including a Minute Man, and presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Ongoing
“Simple Machines.” Exhibit demonstrating the six “simple machines”—incline ramp, screw, wedge, pulley, lever and wheel—that constitute the elementary building blocks of which many more-complicated machines are composed. John Dickinson Plantation Welcome Center, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

-19th annual Chautauqua tent shows to take place in Lewes, Del. from June 18 to 22, 2017-

(DOVER, Del.—May 19, 2017)—America’s participation in “the war to end all wars” will be brought to life during the 19th annual Chautauqua tent show, “Service, Suffrage, and Swing: World War I Era in Delaware,” that will take place at a variety of downtown Lewes, Del. locations from June 18–22, 2017. Co-sponsored by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and the Lewes Historical Society, the five-day event is being held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into the global conflict that was fought between 1914 and 1918. Except where noted, admission is free and open to the public. Go here for a complete listing of activities. For additional information, call 302-645-1148.

A unique mixture of education and entertainment, Lewes’ Chautauqua will be held under a large tent and will feature re-enactors from the American Historical Theatre who take on the personas of celebrated historical figures, educating and entertaining audiences as they bring the past to life. Audience members are encouraged to ask questions and interact with the featured characters who will include President Woodrow Wilson who led the nation during the war; Sgt. Henry Johnson, an African-American soldier who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the war; and suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, who helped lead the campaign that led to the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote.

Additional highlights include opening remarks on June 18 by Commissioner Edwin L. Fountain, vice chair of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, with a special introduction from the newly crowned Miss Delaware; and “Coming Home, the Toll of War,” a two-part program facilitated by Vietnam-War-veteran Richard Claypoole on June 20 that compares and contrasts the experiences of veterans returning from World War I and the Vietnam War.

Chautauqua takes its name from a series of adult education programs that were first held at a campsite on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in upstate New York during the late 19th century. Chautauquas spread throughout America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries bringing speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day to a wide cross-section of the nation’s rural and small-town population. Circuit Chautauquas (also known as Tent Chautauquas) were an itinerant manifestation of the movement. Programs would be presented in tents pitched in a field near town. After several days, the Chautauqua would fold its tents and move on to the next community. The popularity of Chautauquas peaked in the mid-1920s, after which radio, movies and automobiles brought about the gradual disappearance of the movement by the 1940s.

Reborn in the 1970s as a vehicle for humanities education, modern Chautauquas are organized around a core program in which re-enactors portray celebrated historical figures, speaking and interacting with audiences. Modern Chautauquas have been presented annually in Delaware since 1999 featuring a wide variety of historical figures including Teddy Roosevelt; Abigail Adams; Abraham Lincoln; Amelia Earhart; Dolley Madison; Eleanor Roosevelt; Edgar Allan Poe; the Lone Ranger; John Philip Sousa; and Delaware’s own Pvt. James Elbert, Maj. Allen McLane, F.O.C. Darley and Clifford Brown.

The Zwaanendael Museum was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the state’s first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch along Hoorn Kill (present-day Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) in 1631. Designed by E. William Martin (architect of Legislative Hall and the Hall of Records in Dover), the museum is modeled after the town hall in Hoorn, the Netherlands, and features a stepped facade gable with carved stonework and decorated shutters. The museum’s exhibits and presentations provide a showcase for Lewes-area maritime, military and social history.

The Lewes Historical Society is committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment of Lewes, Del.—one of America’s most historic towns. As part of its mission, the society maintains several beautifully restored historic properties dating from 1665 to 1898. Open for public visitation, these properties, in conjunction with the society’s educational programs and special events, help to tell Lewes’ story of maritime adventure, architectural elegance and over 375 years of colonial charm.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

-Coming Memorial Day Weekend!-

(LEWES, Del.—May 16, 2017)—On Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28, 2017, the Zwaanendael Museum, located at 102 Kings Highway in Lewes, Del. will present “A Sailor’s Life for Me,” the museum’s sixth annual maritime celebration that explores seafaring lives of adventure, romance, excitement and hardships; and honors mariners who made the ultimate sacrifice. Activities will take place at several downtown Lewes locations including the Zwaanendael Museum, Canal Front Park, Lightship Overfalls and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. A complete schedule of events is included below. Except for tours of the Lightship Overfalls, admission to all activities is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-645-1148.

2017 Zwaanendael Maritime Celebration: “A Sailor’s Life for Me”
Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes

–“Life at Sea” demonstrations, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Swab the deck, learn about shipboard food, play “Crown and Anchor” and other Colonial-period games and serve on a block-and-tackle station where visitors will be drilled by a demanding mariner looking for new crew members

–Displays and demonstrations on local maritime history, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Presented by a variety of local organizations including the Indian River Lifesaving Station; the Lewes Historical Society; the Lightship Overfalls and the Overfalls Foundation; and the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR)

Canal Front Park, 211 Front St., Lewes

–Living-history encampment, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Historical re-enactors will portray sailors and mariners from the American Revolutionary War to the Korean War with a spotlight on World War I in commemoration of the centennial of America’s entrance into the Great War. Activities include displays, demonstrations and musket drills

Lightship Overfalls, 219 Pilottown Road, Lewes (next to Canal Front Park)

–Sound pipe demonstrations, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Demonstrations on the use of sound pipes which were used by the Overfalls to produce distinct and powerfully audible warnings during the presence of thick fog or mist

–Tours of the Overfalls, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Visit this National Historic Landmark that was the last lightship built by the United States Lighthouse Service. Last tour at 3:30 p.m. Admission $5 for adults and children over 14 years of age

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes

–“Lost Off Lewes: The British Warship DeBraak,” tours at 9 and 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m.
Participants will meet at the Zwaanendael Museum where they will board a van that will transport them to an offsite conservation facility for a guided tour of the surviving hull section of His Majesty’s Sloop DeBraak which sank off the Delaware coast on May 25, 1798. Admission is free, but due to limited seating, reservations are required by calling 302-645-1148 no later than Thursday, May 25, 2017

–Colonial games, 1:30–4 p.m.

–Wreath-laying ceremony honoring crew members of the DeBraak, apx. 3:30 p.m.
Featuring historical re-enactors, a bugler and a bagpiper, this ceremony will take place at the DeBraak Memorial located on the museum grounds. The site contains the remains of several crew members who lost their lives in the sinking of the DeBraak

Canal Front Park, 211 Front St., Lewes

–Living-history encampment, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Historical re-enactors to portray sailors and mariners from the American Revolutionary War to the Korean War with a spotlight on World War I in commemoration of the centennial of America’s entrance into the Great War. Activities include displays, demonstrations and musket drills

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church cemetery, 211 Mulberry St., Lewes

–Wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of James Drew, captain of the DeBraak, 3 p.m.
Featuring historical re-enactors, a bugler and a bagpiper, participants will lay a wreath on Capt. Drew’s grave, followed by a walk to the Zwaanendael Museum for a wreath-laying ceremony honoring other crew members of the DeBraak

The Zwaanendael Museum was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the state’s first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch along Hoorn Kill (present-day Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) in 1631. Designed by E. William Martin (architect of Legislative Hall and the Hall of Records in Dover), the museum is modeled after the town hall in Hoorn, the Netherlands, and features a stepped facade gable with carved stonework and decorated shutters. The museum’s exhibits and presentations provide a showcase for Lewes-area maritime, military and social history.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

NEW CASTLE (May 9, 2017) – When it comes to overall health, patients regularly visit a primary care physician or pediatrician. Regular eye exams are just as important to protect sight and screen for eye disorders and other diseases.

According to Prevent Blindness, both the prevalence and cost of vision problems are set to grow at an alarming rate as the baby-boomer population ages, the number of people in the oldest age groups increases and the minority populations grow.

During Healthy Vision Month, observed each May, the National Eye Institute reminds the public to prioritize eye health to preserve vision. The organization suggests:

• Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This is crucial for individuals at high risk or with a family history of eye disease.
• Know your family health history.
• Live a healthy lifestyle.
• Use protective eye wear when playing contact sports, at work or during hobbies.
• Wear sunglasses.

The American Optometric Association suggests adults ages 18 to 60 have eye exams every two years and those at higher risk have eye exams every one to two years. Adults 61 and older should have their eyes examined annually or as recommended.

The Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children recommends pediatric eye health and vision screening for newborns at birth, and within the first month for high-risk newborns, including premature infants and those with a family history of eye disease. The hospital also recommends eye health and vision screening at 1 and at 3 ½ years old. At age 5, children should have eye alignment and vision screening. After age 5, children should have routine vision screenings every one to two years.

“Vision is important to children’s physical, cognitive and social development,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services and a board-certified family physician. “A child’s learning and development can be affected by undiagnosed and/or uncorrected vision problems. Early detection and treatment are critical.”

In recognition of Healthy Vision Month, Elisha Jenkins, Director of DHSS’ Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI), has announced several events:

• May 10: Eye Health Summit at the Newark Free Library, 750 Library Ave., Newark, 10:15 a.m.

• May 17: Healthy Vision Family Night at the Delaware Children’s Museum, 50 Justison St., Wilmington, 5 p.m.

• May 18: Healthy Vision Month Smart Glasses Demonstration, 1 p.m. Registration is required. Call 302-255-9800 to register.

For information on any of these events, call the Division for the Visually Impaired at 302-255-9800.

For free information on vision and eye health, call Prevent Blindness at 800-331-2020 or www.preventblindness.org.

The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

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(DOVER, Del.—April 20, 2017)—The five museums of the State of Delaware will be sponsoring seven special events during the month of May 2017. A full schedule is included below. Except where noted, all programs are free and open to the public.

Administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the five museums—the John Dickinson Plantation, the Johnson Victrola Museum, the New Castle Court House Museum, The Old State House and the Zwaanendael Museum—tell the story of the First State’s contributions to the history and culture of the United States. Through tours, exhibits, school programs and hands-on activities, the museums shine a spotlight on Delaware’s unique history and the diverse people who came to live there. The New Castle Court House Museum and the John Dickinson Plantation are partner sites of the First State National Historical Park. The Old State House is located on the Dover Green, another partner site of the park. Go to the following for a comprehensive, long-term calendar of events sponsored by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs.

Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs special events, May 2017

Friday–Sunday, May 5–7, 2017
Dover Days Festival. Celebration of Delaware history featuring historical re-enactments, parade, maypole dancing, walking tours, pet parade, arts and crafts, music and more. Events are primarily based in downtown Dover locations including the Johnson Victrola Museum and The Old State House. 302-734-4888.

Saturday, May 6, 2017
“Some Like Classical.” Guided tours examine some of Victor Records’ earliest recordings of classical music played on authentic Victor Talking Machines. Part of the Dover Days Festival. Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New St., Dover. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3262.

Saturday, May 6, 2017
Dover Days at the John Dickinson Plantation. Activities include tours and hearth cooking utilizing 18th-century recipes. Part of the Dover Days Festival. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Saturday, May 6, 2017
“William Penn vs Lord Baltimore: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble.” Historical-theater production explores William Penn’s conflict with Lord Baltimore over ownership of the Delmarva Peninsula. Part of the Dover Days Festival. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Performance at 1 p.m. Museum open for tours 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.

Saturday, May 13, 2017
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. Program explores spinning, weaving, knitting and other fabric arts. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Program 1–3 p.m. Museum open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Saturday, May 20, 2017
A Day in Old New Castle. The oldest house and garden tour in the nation includes programs at the New Castle Court House Museum and the New Castle Green. Downtown New Castle. Admission free at the New Castle Court House Museum. Admission charge at other venues. 302-322-5774.

Saturday, May 27, 2017
“A Sailor’s Life for Me”—Zwaanendael Museum’s 6th Annual Maritime Celebration. Maritime-themed activities including living-history re-enactors, encampments, musket drills, displays, demonstrations, tours of Lightship Overfalls and more. Downtown Lewes locations including the Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission except for tours of the Lightship Overfalls. 302-645-1148.

Sunday, May 28, 2017
“A Sailor’s Life for Me”—Zwaanendael Museum’s 6th Annual Maritime Celebration. Activities in downtown Lewes include tours of the remaining section of HMB DeBraak at 9 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway. Reservations required. Outdoor activities at the Zwaanendael Museum from 1–3 p.m. Wreath-laying ceremonies honoring the crew of DeBraak beginning at 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and living-history re-enactors at Canal Front Park from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Monday, May 29, 2017
Memorial Day. All museums of the State of Delaware will be open: The Johnson Victrola Museum and The Old State House, open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; the John Dickinson Plantation, New Castle Court House Museum and the Zwaanendael Museum, open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.

Exhibits and displays, May 2017
In addition to special programming, the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is sponsoring the following exhibits and displays:

Thru August 2017
“World War II Through the Lens of William D. Willis.” Designed by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the exhibit features photographs taken by Dover, Del. native William D. Willis during World War II. From the collections of the State of Delaware. Middletown Historical Society, 216 N. Broad St., Middletown. Fri., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. First Sat. of each month, 9 a.m.–Noon. Third Wed. of each month, Noon–4 p.m. Other times by appointment. Free admission but call 302-378-7466 before planning a visit.

Thru Dec. 31, 2017
“Rose Color to Gold to Glowing Red: Orville and Ethel Peets in Paris 1913-1914.” Exhibit featuring paintings and painting materials used by the noted Delaware artists Orville Houghton Peets and Ethel Canby Peets. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
“Drawing America to Victory: The Persuasive Power of the Arts in World War I.” Online exhibit revolves around 27 World War I posters from the collections of the State of Delaware.

Ongoing
“Discovering Delaware’s Maritime Past.” Display explores the DeBraak, a shipwrecked 18th-century British warship including a photo of the hull recovery, reproductions of items aboard ship, and a model of the vessel. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
“Emeline Hawkins: Her Journey From Slavery to Freedom on the Underground Railroad.” Exhibit chronicles the compelling story of Emeline Hawkins and her family and their 1845 odyssey on the Underground Railroad from slavery in Maryland, through Delaware to freedom in Pennsylvania. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Ongoing
“Five Stories.” Display explores the varied lives of people who lived on the plantation including Dickinson family members, tenant farmers, tradesmen, free blacks, indentured servants and enslaved individuals. John Dickinson Plantation Welcome Center, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Ongoing
“The Old State House: A True Restoration 1976-2016.” Display explores preservation work that has been conducted since Delaware’s first state capitol building was restored to its original appearance in 1976. From the collections of the State of Delaware. The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. 302-744-5054.

Ongoing
“A Seaborne Citizenry: The DeBraak and Its Atlantic World.” Exhibit utilizes artifacts recovered from His Majesty’s Sloop of War DeBraak, a British warship that sank off the Delaware coast on May 25, 1798 to tell the story of the vessel, its crew and the historical context within which it operated in the Atlantic World of the late 18th century. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. April 1–Oct. 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Nov. 1–March 31: Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
Sculpture by Charles Parks. Display of works by the noted Wilmington artist featuring historical and political figures including a Minute Man, and presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Ongoing
“Simple Machines.” Exhibit demonstrating the six “simple machines”—incline ramp, screw, wedge, pulley, lever and wheel—that constitute the elementary building blocks of which many more-complicated machines are composed. John Dickinson Plantation Welcome Center, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. April 1–Sept. 30: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. Oct. 1–March 31: Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov