About Delaware Historical Society

What does it mean that Delaware was the first state in the Union? The Delaware Historical Society has been around for more than 150 years and is dedicated to promoting the history, heritage, and culture of the First State. Delaware History Museum reopened in October 2016 after an amazing two-year renovation! The exhibition, Delaware: One State, Many Stories is all new and so is the two-story glass connector that allows you to walk to Old Town Hall while enjoying a birds-eye view of Market and King streets. Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage is an exciting new addition that includes the exhibition, Journey to Freedom, which shares fascinating stories of African Americans in Delaware through photographs, objects, music, and video. Old Town Hall opened in 1798 and was the center of political and social activities during the height of Wilmington's mercantile-milling economy. The handsome Federal-style structure housed the city council's meeting rooms, offices and jail and served as the gathering place of civic organizations. The George Read House & Gardens located in historic New Castle became a National Historic Landmark in January 2017. The Federal mansion is surrounded by one-and-a-half acres of formal gardens. Research Library includes a rich and varied collection of books, ephemera, newspapers, serials, maps, manuscripts, and photographs relating to the history of Delaware and its people.