Delaware Historical Society

09/02/2026

What's better than spending a beautiful summer Saturday evening at the Read House Gardens? Enjoying the gardens with a paintbrush in one hand and a cocktail in the other!

Saturday's 𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘦: 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘈𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 featured a watercolor tutorial by Read House intern Kayla Wilen, signature cocktails from The Mercury Cafe and Teahouse, and creativity from our guests, who found their own inspiration among the flowers and blooms of our newly restored parterre garden.

This event was sponsored in part by the Robert R. and Mary Wolcott Davis Endowed Fund.

09/01/2026

Friday's August Quarterly Liberation Fest was a party on Market Street! Following the moving performance by Pieces of a Dream dance troupe inside the Museum, Best Kept Soul Band had us on our feet all evening in celebration of joy, community, and liberation.

08/31/2026

The Delaware Historical Society is proud to announce we are participating in Spotlight Delaware’s First State Fun Day, where Delawareans across the state can enjoy FREE admission and special programming at more than 15 attractions. Visit both the Delaware History Museum & Mitchell Center for African American Heritage AND at the Read House & Gardens on Saturday, September 26 - register today at spotlightdelaware.org/first-state-fun-day

08/30/2026

🏖️Happy National Beach Day! 🏖️

In Delaware, we're fortunate to have many to choose from, each with their own unique features and charm. Whether you prefer a serene morning by the bay, ocean waves crashing on the shore, or shopping and nightlife far from the sand, our beaches have something for everyone!

📸: Delaware Historical Society Photograph Collection, 1850-2000.
[1] Rehoboth Beach, 1920s.
[2] Bowers Beach, ca. 1956.
[3] Lewes, Delaware, ca. 1940.
[4] Bethany Beach, ca. 1940.
[5] Dewey Beach, 1955.
[6] Oak Orchard, ca. 1930.

Drop your favorite beach -- or beach memory -- in the comments ⬇️

08/28/2026

We all have our ways to remember our most cherished memories. For many, scrapbooking is a creative way to commemorate our best memories and moments.

This is the case for a young Marion King, who created scrapbook of her mementos in 1932. Held together with twine and paperclips, you'll see letters, pamphlets, postcards, poems, and her class schedule. Whether you scrapbook like Marion King or not, her work highlights the unique ways we chose to remember our pasts!

📸: Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington, Delaware

08/27/2026

TOMORROW!!!
Come enjoy music, dance, food, and other vendors during August Quarterly Liberation Fest! The theme is Harlem Renaissance, the attire is all-white, and the admission is free.
We'll have performances by Pieces of a Dream and Best Kept Soul Band.
Join the celebration in the 500 Block of N. Market Street from 5-10 p.m.

08/27/2026

If you're visiting downtown Wilmington this weekend, be sure to stop by the Delaware History Museum at 504 N. Market St. to check out the new exhibition 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵, a partnership with Mother African Union Church featuring both interactive elements and never-before-seen archival items. We are open weekly Weds-Sat, 12-5 p.m.

Interactive exhibits and some artifacts dating back more than 100 years help detail the transformation of the Mother African Union Church.

08/27/2026

Join us in the beautiful Read House gardens this Saturday, August 29 from 6-8 p.m. for a paint and sip surrounded by our seasonal blooms!

Enjoy cocktails inspired by the gardens from The Mercury Cafe and Teahouse while painting a watercolor the flowers of your choice. No experience necessary. Guests must be 21+.

Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/painting-the-parterre

08/25/2026

Last week, we celebrated the opening of 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵, a new exhibition created in partnership with the Historic Mother African Union Church. After months of hard work and pivots, it was exciting to welcome members of the community for a first look at the exhibition, honoring the history and legacy of the Church.

𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 is on display in the Mitchell Center Theater at the Delaware History Museum through October 17, 2026, Wednesday through Saturday, 12-5 p.m. Come check it out!