- Delaware Historical Society
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Coordinates: 39°44′34″N 75°33′01″W / 39.742785°N 75.550382°W
Delaware Historical Society 
Logo of the Delaware Historical Society
Location in DelawareEstablished 1864 Location 504 N. Market St., Wilmington, Delaware Type History Director Joan Reynolds Hoge Curator Stephanie Przybylek Public transit access Wilmington Amtrak Station Website Official Website The Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a state-wide historical institution with several venues and a major museum in Wilmington and the historic Read House & Gardens in New 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]
Contents
Delaware History Center
Delaware History Museum
The Society's Wilmington Campus is located between 5th and 6th Streets on Lower Market Street in Wilmington. This row is the historic shopping district and currently markets itself as the LoMa Design District to promote urban redevelopment. The complex includes an arch over the street.
Delaware History Museum
The main museum consists of three rotating exhibit halls in a converted 1941 art deco Woolworth's store, one of two that used to operate on Market Street. Exhibits include costumes, children's toys and folk art.[2]
Old Town Hall
Old Town HallThe Old Town Hall served as the city hall for the Burough and later City of Wilmington. Constructed in 1798 in the federal style, the building also included the jail and library. The Marquis de Lafayette received a reception there and President Andrew Jackson was the guest of honor at a dinner. In 1851, the body of Senator Henry Clay was officially laid in state.
Willingtown Square
Willingtown SquareWillingtown Square is a collection of buildings relocated from other sections of downtown to make way for high rise construction. Started as part of the bicentennial celebration in 1976, the square is named after Thomas Willing, the founder of Wilmington. [3]
The buildings interiors serve as office and meeting space for the society but patrons can access the courtyard and grounds.
Flemish bond brick pattern.[4] 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 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 Library & Research Center
Library and Research CenterThe society provides free access by appointment to a research library with unique special collections. The collection includes work on Delaware genealogy, maps, and underground railroad as well as a letter from George Washington to Caesar Rodney.[5] Senator William V. Roth's widow donated all of his papers to the library.[6]
Located at 505 North Market Street, a former Artisans Savings Bank branch location houses the library. Tilghman Ware Company built the art deco structure in 1930-31.[7]
Read House & Gardens
Located in New Castle on the Strand, the George Read II House was built in 1801 by the son of George Read, a signer of the Declaration 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). [8] The house also includes a rathskeller in the basement that served as a speakeasy. This dates from the 1920s when the Laird family owned the house and were bootleggers. The house was restored in 1986. [9]
See also
- Hagley Museum and Library
- History of Delaware
- Stonum
- List of museums in Delaware
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilmington, Delaware
References
- ^ "2 museums drop entrance fee". The News Journal. 2008-12-25. http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081225/ENTERTAINMENT15/812250308. Retrieved 2009-02-01.[dead link]
- ^ Delaware Historical Society. Brandywine Treasures. http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=10948. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
- ^ Pfingsten, William (2008-08-31). Willington Square. The Historical Marker Database. http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=10948. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ Willington Square. Historical Society of Delaware. http://www.hsd.org/willsq.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ Research Library. Delaware Historical Society. http://www.dehistory.org/library.htm#Rare%20Books%20and%20Pamphlets. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
- ^ Harrison Wick '00. Washington College. http://history.washcoll.edu/ourgrads/harrisonwick.php. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
- ^ Historic Building Notes on Selected Market Street Properties. East Coast Greenway. 2008-05-08. http://www.greenway.org/trailcouncil/may08mtg/marketsttour.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
- ^ Read House & Gardens. Historical Society of Delaware. http://www.hsd.org/willsq.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
- ^ New Castle Attractions. New York Times. http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/delaware/new-castle/attraction-detail.html?vid=1154654620449. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
External links
- Delaware Historical Society
- Brandywine 10
- Downtown Wilmington
- The LoMa Design District
- NRHP District Listing with Photos
- NRHP Town Hall Listing with Photos
- NRHP Jacob Dingee House with Photos
- NRHP Obidiah Dingee House with Photos
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Woolworth/Foot Locker Inc. Company F. W. Woolworth’s • Champs Sports • Eastbay • Foot Locker • Kinney Shoes • Woolco • Other Divisions & NamesakesBuildings Woolworth Building • St. Louis Office • Shadow Lawn • Watertown Store • Wilmington Store • Winfield Hall • Winfield House • Other BuildingsCulture Events Civil Rights Greensboro sit-ins • Ezell A. Blair, Jr. • Civil Rights Museum • February One • Clarence Harris • Lexington Store • Nashville sit-insFamily Categories:- Museums established in 1864
- Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance
- Historic house museums in Delaware
- New Castle, Delaware
- Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Delaware
- Historic districts in Delaware
- History of Delaware
- Buildings and structures in Wilmington, Delaware
- F. W. Woolworth Company buildings and structures
- City and town halls in the United States
- Museums in Wilmington, Delaware
- History museums in Delaware
- Library museums in the United States
- Historical societies in Delaware
- Clock towers in the United States
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