Delaware Historical Society facts for kids
Logo of the Delaware Historical Society
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1864 |
|---|---|
| Location | 504 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware |
| Type | History |
| Public transit access |  DART First State bus: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25, 35, 52 |
The Delaware Historical Society is a group dedicated to preserving Delaware's past. It started in 1864 to save important papers from the Civil War. Today, it's a big historical organization across the state.
The society manages several cool buildings. These include the Delaware History Museum and Old Town Hall in Wilmington. They also care for the historic Read House & Gardens in New Castle.
Contents
Discovering Delaware's History Center
The main campus of the Delaware Historical Society is in Wilmington. It's located on Lower Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets. This area used to be a busy shopping district. Today, it's known as the LoMa Design District. This name helps promote new growth in the city.
Explore the Delaware History Museum
The Delaware History Museum is a fun place to learn about the state. It's inside a building that used to be a Woolworth's store. This store was built in 1941 and has a cool art deco style.
The museum has two main exhibit halls. One is called “Delaware: One State, Many Stories.” The other is the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage. These exhibits help you discover Delaware's rich past.
Wilmington's Historic Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall was once the main government building for Wilmington. It was built in 1798. The building has a classic Federal style.
This historic building also housed the city jail and library. Many important events happened here. The Marquis de Lafayette was welcomed here. President Andrew Jackson also attended a special dinner. In 1851, Senator Henry Clay's body was honored here.
Willingtown Square: A Collection of Old Homes
Willingtown Square is a unique spot in downtown Wilmington. It's a group of old buildings that were moved here. They were relocated to make space for new, taller buildings. The square was created in 1976 for the bicentennial celebration.
The square is named after Thomas Willing. He was the founder of Wilmington. The buildings are now used for offices and meetings by the society. Visitors can walk through the courtyard and enjoy the historic grounds.
| Building Name | Built | Construction | Original Use | Relocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook-Simms House | 1778 | Flemish bond | Herbal medicine shop, Home | 1976 |
| Catherine Coxe House | 1801 | Band Box | Home | 1976 |
| Margaret Coxe House | 1801 | Band Box | Home | 1976 |
| Jacobs House (also known as Zachariah Ferris House) | 1748 | Flemish bond | Home | 1976 |
| Jacob Dingee House | 1771 | Flemish bond | Cabinet workshop, Home | 1976 |
| Obidiah Dingee House | 1773 | Flemish bond | Cabinet workshop, Home | 1976 |
Researching Delaware's Past: The Library
The society offers a special research library. It has many unique collections you can explore for free. You can find information on Delaware family histories (genealogy). There are also maps and details about the underground railroad.
The library even has a letter from George Washington to Caesar Rodney. Senator William V. Roth's family donated all his important papers here. The library is located at 505 North Market Street. It's in a building that was once a bank. This building was built in 1930–31 and has an art deco design.
The Historic Read House and Gardens
In New Castle, you can visit the George Read II House. It was built in 1801 by George Read, Jr.. His father, George Read, signed the Declaration of Independence.
This house was the biggest in Delaware when it was built. It has 22 rooms and covers about 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2). The house was carefully restored in 1986.
See also
