Delaware, the First State, packs remarkable diversity into the nation's second-smallest state — from the cosmopolitan Wilmington riverfront and historic New Castle's cobblestone streets to the Victorian beach resort of Rehoboth Beach and the wild marshes of Cape Henlopen. Rich in colonial and Revolutionary War history, home to major corporate headquarters and the DuPont dynasty's legacy estates, and bordered by Atlantic beaches, Delaware rewards visitors who look beyond its modest size.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Delaware.
-
1
Dutch establish Zwaanendael Colony (Lewes) — first European settlement in Delaware, destroyed by the Lenape within a year
-
2
Swedish colonists found Fort Christina (Wilmington) — beginning of permanent European settlement
-
3
British Duke of York seizes Delaware from the Dutch — English rule begins
-
4
Old Swedes Church (Holy Trinity) built in Wilmington — the oldest surviving Christian church building in the US still in regular use
-
5
Battle of Cooch's Bridge (Newark) — the only Revolutionary War battle fought on Delaware soil (September 3, 1777)
-
6
Delaware ratifies US Constitution on December 7 — first state to do so, earning 'The First State' title
-
7
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont founds E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company on the Brandywine Creek — beginning of the DuPont dynasty
-
8
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal completed — connecting Chesapeake Bay to Delaware River, transforming regional commerce
-
9
Delaware General Corporation Law revisions make Delaware the dominant state for corporate incorporation in America
-
10
Delaware Memorial Bridge opens — connecting Delaware to New Jersey across the Delaware River
Historical sites
Places where Delaware's past comes alive.
Historic New Castle Courthouse Museum
Where: New Castle
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Hagley Museum and Library
Where: Brandywine Valley, Wilmington
Admission: Adult: $20 | Child: $8 (ages 6-14)
Old Swedes Church (Holy Trinity Church)
Where: Wilmington
Admission: Adult: Free (donations welcomed) | Child: Free
Amstel House Museum
Where: New Castle
Admission: Adult: $7 | Child: $3 (under 12)
First State National Historical Park (Dover Unit)
Where: Dover
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Zwaanendael Museum
Where: Lewes
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Museums
Curated collections that tell Delaware's story.
Delaware Historical Society Research Center
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Admission: Adult: $4 (research access) | Child: Free
Delaware State Museum (Johnson Victrola Museum, Dover)
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free