Delaware Historical Society

The Delaware Historical Society is a statewide historical institution based in Wilmington, Delaware. It began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents associated with the Civil War and subsequently developed into a broad organization devoted to collecting, conserving, researching, and interpreting Delaware's history. Its work spans public museums, historic properties, archives, educational interpretation, and visitor-oriented cultural programming. The society's principal Wilmington presence is its Delaware History Center on Lower Market Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. The campus occupies part of Wilmington's historic commercial district, an area now promoted as the LoMa Design District. The complex includes the Delaware History Museum, Old Town Hall, and Willingtown Square. Together, these sites connect the history of the city, the state, and the buildings in which that history was made. The Delaware History Museum is housed in a converted Art Deco Woolworth's store dating from 1941. Its permanent interpretation includes the exhibition “Delaware: One State, Many Stories” and the Discover Delaware experience. The museum also contains the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, which gives the society a dedicated setting for interpreting African American history and heritage in Delaware. Old Town Hall, constructed in 1798 in the Federal style, is another major component of the Wilmington campus. The building served as the municipal hall for the borough and later the city of Wilmington, while also containing a jail and library. Its historical associations include a reception for the Marquis de Lafayette, a dinner honoring President Andrew Jackson, and the public lying-in-state of Senator Henry Clay in 1851. Willingtown Square, begun during the 1976 bicentennial period, is a group of historic structures relocated from other parts of downtown before high-rise redevelopment. The society uses their interiors for offices and meetings while making the courtyard and grounds available to visitors. The organization also operates or manages the Read House & Gardens in New Castle. The George Read II House was built in 1801 by George Read Jr., whose father was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The large residence contains 22 rooms and approximately 14,000 square feet. Its basement rathskeller later served as a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, when the Laird family owned the property. The house underwent restoration in 1986. Research is a central part of the society's public role. Its library and research center provides free access to special collections concerning Delaware genealogy, maps, the Underground Railroad, and other subjects. Holdings include a letter from George Washington to Caesar Rodney and the papers of Senator William V. Roth, donated by Roth's widow. In this way, the society functions both as a visitor attraction and as a scholarly and genealogical resource. The Delaware Historical Society also participates in cooperative destination marketing with the Delaware Tourism Office, the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance. These relationships position the society within Delaware's wider cultural-tourism network. Its overall identity is that of a nonprofit heritage institution rather than a commercial product brand: its principal offerings are access to collections, exhibitions, historic places, educational interpretation, and research assistance.

The Delaware Historical Society traces its origin to 1864, when an effort was organized to preserve documentary material relating to the Civil War. From that initial archival purpose, the organization expanded into a statewide historical society with responsibilities extending across collections, research, museums, historic preservation, and public interpretation. Its principal campus is in Wilmington's historic Lower Market Street district, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. The area has also been promoted as the LoMa Design District as part of efforts to encourage downtown redevelopment. The society's Wilmington complex includes the Delaware History Museum, Old Town Hall, and Willingtown Square. These properties allow the organization to present Delaware history through both formal exhibitions and surviving architectural settings. The Delaware History Museum occupies a former Woolworth's store built in 1941 in the Art Deco style. The building is one of two former Woolworth's locations that once operated on Market Street. Within it, the society presents permanent exhibitions including “Delaware: One State, Many Stories” and Discover Delaware. The Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage is also located in the museum, adding a dedicated focus on African American experiences and contributions in the state. Old Town Hall provides an older civic setting for the society's work. Built in 1798 in the Federal style, it served first as the borough hall and later as Wilmington's city hall. The building also included a jail and library. Its documented associations with Lafayette, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay illustrate the role it played in the civic and political life of early Wilmington. Willingtown Square represents a later preservation intervention. Begun in connection with the 1976 bicentennial celebration, it brought together buildings moved from other parts of downtown when high-rise development threatened their original locations. The buildings now support society offices and meeting functions, while the square's courtyard and grounds remain accessible to patrons. The society's New Castle property, Read House & Gardens, extends its geographic and thematic reach beyond Wilmington. The George Read II House was constructed in 1801 by George Read Jr., son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. At the time of construction, the residence was described as the largest in Delaware, with 22 rooms and approximately 14,000 square feet. Its basement rathskeller later became a speakeasy during the 1920s, when the Laird family owned the house. The property was restored in 1986. Archival and research services remain a core institutional function. The society provides free access to a research library containing Delaware genealogical materials, maps, Underground Railroad resources, and other special collections. Among the cited holdings are a letter from George Washington to Caesar Rodney and the papers of Senator William V. Roth, donated by Roth's widow. The library building at 505 North Market Street occupies a former Artisans Savings Bank branch designed in the Art Deco manner and constructed in 1930–31 by the Tilghman Ware Company. In its public-facing role, the Delaware Historical Society works with tourism and cultural organizations, including the Delaware Tourism Office, the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance. These partnerships help connect the society's museums and historic sites with statewide and regional visitor networks. Across its history, the institution has therefore evolved from a Civil War-era document-preservation initiative into a multifaceted heritage organization serving education, scholarship, preservation, civic interpretation, and cultural tourism.

• 1986

  Read House restoration completed

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The George Read II House underwent restoration, supporting its later use as the Read House & Gardens historic site.

• 1976

  Willingtown Square initiated

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Willingtown Square was begun as part of bicentennial-era preservation and brought historic buildings together after redevelopment threatened their original locations.

• 1941

  Woolworth's building constructed

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Art Deco commercial building that houses the Delaware History Museum was constructed as a Woolworth's store.

• 1930

  Art Deco research-library building constructed

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The building now used for the society's library and research center was constructed as an Artisans Savings Bank branch during 1930–31.

• 1864

  Society established

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Delaware Historical Society began as an effort to preserve documents connected with the Civil War.

• 1801

  Construction of the George Read II House

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  George Read II built the residence that later became the society's Read House & Gardens in New Castle.

• 1798

  Construction of Old Town Hall

  [1]Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Old Town Hall was constructed in Wilmington in the Federal style. It later served as borough and city hall and became part of the Delaware Historical Society's Wilmington campus.

A statewide heritage institution combining museums, preserved historic properties, archival collections, and public research services to interpret Delaware history for residents, researchers, students, and visitors.

• Museum

  Delaware History Museum

  The society's principal museum in Wilmington occupies a converted 1941 Art Deco Woolworth's store. It presents permanent interpretation focused on Delaware's people, places, and historical development, including “Delaware: One State, Many Stories” and Discover Delaware. The museum also contains the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, providing a dedicated venue for interpreting African American history in Delaware.

• Historic building · 1798

  Old Town Hall

  Built in 1798, Old Town Hall is a Federal-style civic building that served as the borough and later city hall of Wilmington. It also contained a jail and library. Its associations with Lafayette, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay make it an important setting for interpreting Wilmington's political and civic history.

• Historic district and preservation site · 1976

  Willingtown Square

  Willingtown Square is a collection of historic buildings relocated from other parts of downtown Wilmington to protect them from high-rise redevelopment. Initiated during the 1976 bicentennial period, the square now provides office and meeting space for the society, while its courtyard and grounds are available to patrons.

• Historic house museum · 1986

  Read House & Gardens

  Located on the Strand in New Castle, the George Read II House was built in 1801 and later became a society historic site. The 22-room residence covers approximately 14,000 square feet and includes a basement rathskeller associated with its Prohibition-era use as a speakeasy. The house was restored in 1986 and is presented with its gardens.

• Archive and research service

  Library and Research Center

  The research center provides free access to special collections relating to Delaware genealogy, maps, the Underground Railroad, and other aspects of state history. Notable holdings include a letter from George Washington to Caesar Rodney and the papers of Senator William V. Roth. The library is housed in a former Artisans Savings Bank building at 505 North Market Street.

• Delaware cultural-tourism joint marketing

  Delaware · United States

  The Delaware Historical Society participates in cooperative marketing with the Delaware Tourism Office, the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance to promote Delaware's historical and cultural attractions.

  Outcome. The cited material identifies the society as part of a wider regional cultural-tourism network but does not provide campaign performance figures or a specific completion date.

  Source

1. 1Delaware Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Delaware Historical Society official websitehsd.org