Delaware Historical Society

Join the Delaware Historical Society this June as we gear up for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! It's a busy month with programming featuring music, cocktails, conversation, family history, and virtual events.

🔹Saturday, June 6 -- 𝙄𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚
A panel discussion with The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce exploring the relationship between the United States and the Caribbean, what Caribbean heritage means to our panelists, and how Caribbean history and culture has influenced Delaware’s Black history.
https://dehistory.org/calendar/in-conversation-caribbean-heritage/

🔹Wednesday, June 17 -- 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙋𝘼 (virtual)
Join DHS and Delaware Public Archives to learn more about the conditions that led to Delaware declaring its independence from Pennsylvania 250 years ago.
https://dehistory.org/calendar/not-today-pa/

🔹Friday, June 19 -- 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙚 & 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧: 𝙅𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝
Bring your memories and memorabilia for a family history workshop highlighting experiences and memories from Jason Beach, as part of the Jason Beach Juneteenth Celebration at Trap Pond State Park.
https://dehistory.org/calendar/restore-remember-jason-beach/

🔹Tuesday, June 23 -- 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩: 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜
Experience the music of the American Revolution as we discover lively marches and catchy songs that lifted spirits and kept people moving during the Revolutionary Era.
https://dehistory.org/calendar/from-the-vault-revolutionary-singalong/

🔹Friday, July 26 -- 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙨
“Huzza!” to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! Join DHS and Derrick Kelley, owner of Bin 66 Wine & Spirits in Rehoboth, to discover (and taste!) what 18th century Patriots drank while plotting to overthrow Great Britain. 21+ event.
https://dehistory.org/calendar/revolutionary-spirits/

If you're planning to visit the Read House & Gardens this week, please note our modified hours:

Thursday, May 28 -- We will open to the public for tours at 2 p.m.
Friday, May 29 -- Regular hours, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 30 -- The last tour will begin at 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 31 -- Regular hours, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Delaware History Museum & Mitchell Center for African American Heritage will be CLOSED on Saturday, May 30 due to the Ladybug Music Festival taking place on Market Street!

The Festival is 12-9 p.m., with live music from 3-9 p.m. Willingtown Square will once again host one of the music stages, with performances beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Free registration is required to attend this year's festival. Register here: https://www.theladybugfestival.com/register-1

The Delaware Historical Society is excited to host In Conversation: Caribbean Heritage on Saturday, June 6 from 3-4 p.m. This discussion will explore the relationship between the United States and the Caribbean, what Caribbean heritage means to our panelists, and how Caribbean history and culture has influenced Delaware’s Black history.

Our In Conversation series is a panel discussion featuring community leaders, officials, and scholars. This program is intended to bring community members and stakeholders together to share ideas and facilitate a conversations about issues relevant to Delawareans.

Tickets $5 or Free for Delaware Historical Society members. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/caribbean-heritage

We had a beautiful day for A Day in Old New Castle on Saturday! It's always wonderful to welcome first-time visitors and long-time friends to explore and learn about the Read House, and we loved seeing so many people getting into the spirit of the day in costume!

If you didn't make it last weekend, we'd love to see you soon! We will open for public tours at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, May 21. We will return to regular operating hours this weekend, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Please note: The Delaware History Museum & Mitchell Center for African American Heritage will be CLOSED on Wednesday and Thursday this week, May 20-21, while our campus network receives necessary upgrades. Please visit us Friday or Saturday during normal hours, 12-5 p.m.!

The Delaware Historical Society and The Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage are saddened to hear of the devastating fire our friends and partners at the Mother African Union Church experienced in the early hours of Sunday, May 17th.

The Mother African Union Church has long roots in Wilmington, since Reverend Peter Spencer, William Anderson, and several dozen worshippers founded the community in 1813. For 156 years, the Church was an anchor for the East Side neighborhood and shaped the local area from its original location on French Street. The Church moved to the building at 9th and Franklin, which was once Second Baptist Church, in 1969 to make way for the City of Wilmington’s urban renewal plans. From its new location, the Church continued to be an active part of Wilmington’s socio-cultural fabric.

Our thoughts are with Reverend Dr. Whitaker, church leadership, and the hundreds of people who call Mother African Union Church home. The church has had an important impact on Wilmington and the broader Mid-Atlantic region for over two centuries and will continue to shape life and culture in our community.

For the last several years, the Mitchell Center team has worked closely with Reverend Dr. Whitaker and church leaders to prepare a new interpretive display of the community’s Heritage Hallway exhibition. While this work will now change, we are committed to continuing our efforts to work with our friends and colleagues within the Church community to preserve, present, and interpret this history so that people of all backgrounds can learn and appreciate the important legacy of Peter Spencer and the Mother African Union Church.

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE:
In Conversation: A Community Dialogue on Redistricting, originally scheduled for this evening, has been moved to MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21.

All confirmed registrants were emailed with the details of the new date as well as information about requesting a ticket refund if needed. We look forward to seeing everyone for this conversation in the fall!

A Day in Old New Castle is tomorrow, and we hope to see you at the Read House & Gardens, where you'll be able to see some of the progress on our renovated gardens, participate in family-friendly crafts, and take a self-guided tour!

In these photographs from our archives, you'll see familiar sites, such as Court House and Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green, as well as a glimpse into the Read House Gardens in the early 1900s. Our garden renovation project will bring the vibrant gardens in these old photographs to life!

📸: DHS General Photograph Collection, Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington, Del.

The Delaware History Museum & Mitchell Center for African American Heritage will be closed on Saturday, May 16. We encourage everyone to visit us at the Read House & Gardens in New Castle from 10-4 for A Day in Old New Castle!

Follow the Day In Old New Castle page as we profile each of the days activities and participants.

Celebrate 50 years of A Day in Old New Castle with us! Since 1976, the Delaware Historical Society has operated the Read House & Gardens as a museum. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the first floor of the house, make a garden-themed craft, and check out the progress on our garden revitalization project!”

The photo below was provided by the Reed House and gardens. This photo was taken in 1934 and shows Philip and Lydia Laird in the garden.

The Read House and Gardens
42 The Strand

Visit https://www.historicnewcastle.com for additional information and to purchase tickets for the home and garden tour.