First State National Historical Park

National Historical Park Of The National Park Service, Made Up Of Seven Separate Historic Sites Across Delaware, First Proclaimed A National Monument In 2013 · New Castle, Delaware

First State National Historical Park is Delaware's only National Park Service unit, and it is not one place but seven, scattered from the Brandywine Valley near the Pennsylvania line to Lewes on the Atlantic coast. It was proclaimed a national monument in 2013 and became a national historical park in 2014, and together its sites tell the story of the colony and of the state that ratified the Constitution first, on 7 December 1787. The anchor is New Castle, with the 1732 Court House that served as the colonial capital and the green and Sheriff's House around it. In Wilmington are Old Swedes Church of 1698-99 and Fort Christina, where Swedish colonists landed in 1638. Beaver Valley is a stretch of Brandywine woods with free trails. Around Dover are the Green where ratification took place and the John Dickinson Plantation, and in Lewes is the Ryves Holt House, thought to be the oldest house in the state. Many buildings are run by partners with their own, often limited, hours, and you need a car.

211 Delaware Street, New Castle, Delaware, 19720, United States

There is no single gate, visitor center or set of hours for this park, because its seven components are spread across the state and several are run by partners rather than by the National Park Service. Outdoor areas such as the New Castle Green, Dover Green, Fort Christina and the Beaver Valley woodlands are open land that can be visited in daylight, and Beaver Valley trails are generally open from about dawn to dusk. The buildings are the problem: the New Castle Court House Museum, the Sheriff's House, Old Swedes Church, the Old State House and the John Dickinson Plantation each keep their own schedule, often limited to certain days of the week, with many closed on Mondays and some open mainly on weekends or only in the warmer months. The Ryves Holt House in Lewes is usually open seasonally, mostly in late spring to early autumn. Old Swedes is an active church, so services and events can close it to visitors. State-run sites close on state holidays. Confirm each building's days and times before you drive, or you may find only a locked door.

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