First State Heritage Park is
Delaware's first urban "park without boundaries" linking historic and cultural sites in
Dover
Dover () is a town and major ferry port in Kent, South East England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies south-east of Canterbury and east of Maidstone ...
,
Kent County,
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
, the city that has been the seat of state government since 1777. It is a partnership of state and city agencies under the leadership of
Delaware State Parks. Delaware was the first state to
ratify
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent that lacked the authority to bind the principal legally. Ratification defines the international act in which a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty if the parties inten ...
the
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the Supremacy Clause, supreme law of the United States, United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven ar ...
. The sites of the park highlight Delaware's role as the First State. First State Heritage Park is open year-round, with special tours of the sites given the first Saturday of each month.
Historic and cultural sites
The sites of First State Heritage Park were organized as a state park in 2004 by Governor
Ruth Ann Minner
Ruth Ann Minner (née Coverdale; January 17, 1935 – November 4, 2021) was an American politician and businesswoman from Milford, in Kent County, Delaware. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the 72nd (and, to date, only female) gov ...
. It is a partnership between the Delaware Economic Development Office, the Delaware Department of State, and the
.
The sites of the park are First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries, The Old State House,
Legislative Hall: The State Capitol, The John Bell House, The Delaware Public Archives, The Johnson
Victrola
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidia ...
Museum,
Woodburn and Hall House - The Governor's House, and the Biggs Museum of American Art.
First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries
Located within the Delaware Public Archives building adjacent to Legislative Hall, the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center & Galleries serves as an entrance portal to Delaware's state capital and the historic city of Dover. The center is ideally situated for auto-borne visitation with easy highway access and plentiful parking. Visitor services include self-guided tours of the center's exhibits, and extensive information on local and statewide attractions, events, and activities.
The Old State House
The
Old State House served as the state's first permanent capitol building from 1791 until 1932. It is located on Dover's historic
green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
. The Old State House originally housed Delaware's state government and the government of Kent County.
The Old Statehouse was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1971.
The State House has undergone several expansions and renovations since it opened in 1791. It was originally built in a
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I, George II, Georg ...
style. The state house was remodeled in 1873 to reflect a
Victorian style and restored in 1976 to its original appearance. Extensive renovations of the State House also took place in 2007.
Guided tours of the building are offered throughout the day Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Delaware Legislative Hall
Legislative Hall is the state
capitol
A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity.
Specific capitols include:
* United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
* Numerous ...
building. It houses offices and the assembly room for the
Delaware State Legislature. Legislative Hall has served as the main legislative building since 1933. It is open for tours, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
John Bell House
The John Bell house is a small one room home that historians believe to have been built as a workshop with an original footprint of 16 feet by 25 feet, with a small basement and attic. During restoration efforts that started in 2010, the date of 1743 was found punched into a stud with an awl, but the building is believed to be older than that. Prior to the restoration the building had additions added and used as law offices for George Valentine Massey and
Nathaniel B. Smithers, as well as a post office from 1818 to 1825 before it was acquired by the state of Delaware.
Visit with historical interpreters and learn about this newly restored house, the oldest surviving wooden structure in Dover. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Delaware Public Archives
The Delaware Public Archives building houses an extensive collection of materials dating back as far as the 17th century to today. The research room is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and on the First Saturday of the month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Johnson Victrola Museum
The Johnson Victrola Museum was built in honor of
Eldridge R. Johnson
Eldridge Reeves Johnson (February 6, 1867 in Wilmington, Delaware – November 14, 1945 in Moorestown, New Jersey) was an American businessman and engineer who founded the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901 and built it into the leading A ...
, founder of the
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidia ...
. Exhibits at the museum include paintings, objects, memorabilia, and trademarks that highlight the development of the sound recording industry. The museum is open Wednesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The museum is part of the
Delaware State Museum Buildings
Delaware State Museum Buildings, also known as Old Presbyterian Church Complex, is a historic museum complex located in Dover, Delaware. The complex consists of four buildings. They are the Old Presbyterian Church, brick chapel (1880), brick gas pl ...
complex, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Biggs Museum of American Art
The Biggs Museum of American Art houses a permanent collection of American fine and decorative arts as well as changing exhibitions throughout the year. It is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Woodburn and Hall House – The Governor's House
Woodburn, the official residence of Delaware's Governor, Hall House, the Governor's guest house; and their gardens offer regular tours.
References
External links
First State Heritage ParkBiggs Museum of American ArtDelaware Public ArchivesJohnson Victrola Museum
{{DEFAULTSORT:First State Heritage Park At Dover
Parks in Kent County, Delaware
State parks of Delaware
Protected areas established in 2004
Museums in Dover, Delaware
2004 establishments in Delaware
National Register of Historic Places in Kent County, Delaware