Learn some Delaware history at these 5 events in August

Cooch-Dayett Mills circa 1910. (Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs)

The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will sponsor five events focused on Delaware history during the month of August 2022.

A full schedule is included below. Except where noted, all programs are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m.

• National Night Out in Historic New Castle. Annual community-building, family-friendly event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Activities include presentations by the New Castle Police Department, fire prevention information from the Good Will Fire Company, historical children’s games presented by the New Castle Court House Museum, demonstrations by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, music by Paul Freebury, food and more. Battery Park, One Delaware St., New Castle. 6–8 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, at 2:30 p.m.

• “The Wreck of the DeBraak.” The program explores the history of the British warship DeBraak which sank off the coast of Lewes in May of 1798 only to be recovered by treasure hunters nearly 200 years later. Presented outdoors in Zwaanendael Park located adjacent to the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 2:30 p.m. Guests are urged to bring their own chairs. In the event of inclement weather, the program may be canceled. 302-645-1148 or [email protected].

Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site: Touring the homestead. Join historical interpreters for this introductory program on the history of the Cooch’s Bridge homestead. Learn about some of the individuals who lived on the property, how they shaped the land around them and how the location’s landscape contributed to national history. Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site, 961 South Old Baltimore Pike, Newark. Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Limit 20 visitors per tour. Free admission but reservations required. 302-922-7116 or [email protected]. NOTE: Both Aug. 20 tours are fully booked. Reservations are now being accepted for tours on Sept. 24 at 10 a.m.

  

Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at 12 p.m.

• “Well Seasoned Heirlooms.” Virtual program in which historic site interpreter Kimberly Fritsch of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ New Castle Court House Museum shines a spotlight on the culinary practices, recipes and personalized cookbooks of women throughout Delaware history as they speak to us through their food. Cookbooks became a way for women to pass along their legacy and convey a sense of what was important in their culture, daily lives and, even, weather occurrences and events of the time. Program streamed live via Zoom. Noon. Free but registration is required. 302-323-4453 or [email protected].

Remaining Delaware history events in July 2022

In addition, the division will be presenting the following program during the remainder of July.

Friday, July 29, 2022, at 12 p.m.

“Well Seasoned Heirlooms.” Virtual program in which historic site interpreter Kimberly Fritsch of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ New Castle Court House Museum shines a spotlight on the culinary practices, recipes and personalized cookbooks of women throughout Delaware history as they speak to us through their food. Cookbooks became a way for women to pass along their legacy and convey a sense of what was important in their culture, daily lives and, even, weather occurrences and events of the time. Program streamed live via Zoom. Noon. Free but registration is required by going to this link. 302-323-4453 or [email protected].

About the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality, and providing educational programs and assistance to the public on Delaware history.

The division’s diverse services include the operation of five museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the State’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center, and management of historic properties across the state.

Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

Administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the five museums of the State of Delaware — the John Dickinson Plantation, the Johnson Victrola Museum, the New Castle Court House Museum, The Old State House and the Zwaanendael Museum — tell the story of the First State’s contributions to the history and culture of the United States.

Through tours, exhibits and special programs, the museums shine a spotlight on Delaware’s unique history and the diverse people who came to live there.

The museums are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The New Castle Court House Museum and the John Dickinson Plantation are partner sites of the First State National Historical Park. The Old State House is located on the Dover Green, another partner site of the park.

Go to this webpage for a long-term calendar of division-sponsored events.

This story is a republished press release from the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. It has been edited for clarity.

Staff Writer