 Logo of the Delaware Historical Society | |
  Location in Delaware | |
| Established | 1864 (1864) |
|---|---|
| Location | 504 N. Market Street,Wilmington,Delaware |
| Coordinates | 39°44′34″N75°33′01″W / 39.742785°N 75.550382°W /39.742785; -75.550382 |
| Type | History |
| Director | David Young, Ph.D. |
| President | Margaret Laird, Ph.D. |
| Public transit access |  DART First State bus: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25, 35, 52 |
| Website | dehistory |
TheDelaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from theCivil War. Since then, it has expanded into a statewide historical institution with several buildings, including Old Town Hall and the Delaware History Museum, inWilmington and the historic Read House & Gardens inNew Castle.
The society participates in joint marketing with the Delaware Tourism Office, the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance.[1]
The society's Wilmington Campus is located between 5th and 6th Streets on Lower Market Street inWilmington. This row is the historic shopping district and currently markets itself as the LoMa Design District to promoteurban redevelopment. The complex includes an arch over the street.
The main museum consists of two permanent exhibit halls in a converted 1941art decoWoolworth's store,one of two that used to operate on Market Street. Exhibits include “Delaware: One State, Many Stories,” Discover Delaware, and theJane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage.
TheOld Town Hall served as the city hall for theBurough and later City ofWilmington. Constructed in 1798 in thefederal style, the building also included the jail and library. TheMarquis de Lafayette received a reception there and PresidentAndrew Jackson was the guest of honor at a dinner. In 1851, the body of SenatorHenry Clay officially lay in state.
Willingtown Square is a collection of buildings relocated from other sections of downtown to make way forhigh rise construction. Started as part of thebicentennial celebration in 1976, the square is named afterThomas Willing, the founder ofWilmington.[2]
The buildings' interiors serve as office and meeting space for the society but patrons can access the courtyard and grounds.
| [3] Building Name | Built | Construction | Original Use | Relocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook-Simms House | 1778 | Flemish bond | Herbal medicine shop, Residence | 1976 |
| Catherine Coxe House | 1801 | Band Box | Residence | 1976 |
| Margaret Coxe House | 1801 | Band Box | Residence | 1976 |
| Jacobs House (akaZachariah Ferris House) | 1748 | Flemish bond | Residence | 1976 |
| Jacob Dingee House | 1771 | Flemish bond | Cabinet workshop, Residence | 1976 |
| Obidiah Dingee House | 1773 | Flemish bond | Cabinet workshop, Residence | 1976 |
The society provides free access to a research library with unique special collections. The collection includes work onDelawaregenealogy, maps, andUnderground Railroad as well as a letter fromGeorge Washington toCaesar Rodney.[4] SenatorWilliam V. Roth's widow donated all of his papers to the library.[5] The library is open Mondays from 1 pm to 9 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 1 pm, Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm, and the third Saturday of every month from 10 am to 4 pm.
Located at 505 North Market Street, a former Artisans Savings Bank branch location houses the library. Tilghman Ware Company built theart deco structure in 1930–31.[6]
Located inNew Castle on the Strand, the George Read II House was built in 1801 byGeorge Read, Jr., the son ofGeorge Read, a signer of theDeclaration of Independence. The house was the largest in the state at the time it was built with 22 rooms covering 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2).[7] The house also includes arathskeller in the basement that served as aspeakeasy. This dates from the 1920s when the Laird family owned the house and werebootleggers. The house was restored in 1986.[8]
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