DELAWARE — The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs announced it will be sponsoring special programs during the month of September 2023. A full schedule is included below. Except where noted, all programs are free and open to the public. Reservations are required for some of the programs. Go to the following link for additional information and reservation instructions: Division-sponsored events in September 2023
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs programs, September 2023
Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023
The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge Memorial Ceremony.Program by the Pencader Heritage Museum honors all American veterans at the site of the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge, the only battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on Delaware soil. Pencader Heritage Museum, 2029 Sunset Lake Road, Newark. 10 a.m. Free admission. 302-737-5859.
Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023
“Masters of the Mountain: The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge.” On Sept. 3, 1777, the only Revolutionary War land battle fought in the state of Delaware occurred at Cooch’s Bridge. Join historical interpreters for a brief walking tour to learn more about the area’s strategically significant landscape, some of the individuals involved and how the battle continues to impact the site today. Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site, 961 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark. 1 p.m. Limit 25 visitors. Free admission but reservations required by clicking here, by calling 302-922-7116 or CBmuseum@delaware.gov.
Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023
First Saturday at Johnson Victrola Museum Open for tours. Free admission. 375 S. New St., Dover.
302-739-3262 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023
First Saturday at Old State House Open for tours. Free admission. 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. 25 The Green, Dover. 302-744-5054
Monday, Sept. 4, 2023
Labor Day. The following museum administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be open: Zwaanendael Museum. The following museums will be closed: John Dickinson Plantation, Johnson Victrola Museum, New Castle Court House Museum and The Old State House. 302-744-5054.
Every Friday and Saturday from Sept. 8 to Sept. 23.
History Revival: Coastal Chronicles. Join the Zwaanendael Museum for a new speaker series! Through lectures, music and historic theater, History Revival: Coastal Chronicles seeks to widen the understanding of Delaware’s maritime history. Held in partnership with the Lewes Public Library with funding provided by a grant from the Delaware Humanities. All programs will be held at the Lewes Public Library. Registration is suggested, but not required in person attendance. Some programs are available virtually via Zoom, and registration is required to attend online. All programs are free. Visit the Lewes Public Library’s History Revival page for more information and to register, or call 302-645-1148 or email Zmuseum@delaware.gov for more information.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2023
The Wreck of the Faithful Steward on Delaware’s False Cape. Join author Michael Dougherty as he discusses his book “The Wreck of the Faithful Steward on Delaware’s False Cape”. Dougherty tells the story of the wreck and the people on board the. Online and in-person, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2023
Possum Point Players Radio Show – The Bickersons at Sea. The Possum Point Players return to Lewes for a night of radio entertainment! After a brief introduction to some of the popular shows of the “Golden Age of Radio”, they will reach into their radio show archives and present a radio classic See and hear them live and in person! In-person, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023
The Lightship Overfalls. John Bolster of the Overfalls Foundation will discuss the story of Overfalls (LV118) and its history as a lightship, from when it was launched in 1938 to when it arrived in Lewes in 1973. Online and in-person, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023
The H.M.S. Debraak. Join Claudia Leister as she discusses her involvement with the shipwreck the H.M.S Debraak. Following the ship’s salvage in 1986, Claudia was heavily involved in the processing, cataloging, and curating of artifacts from the shipwreck. Online and in-person, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15, 2023
Delaware’s Naval Heritage. Presented by author and retired Navy Captain Bill Manthorpe Since retiring full time to the Delaware Coast in 1998, Bill has been researching, writing, and speaking on the naval and maritime history of Delaware. He has contributed articles to Pull Together, the publication of the Naval Historical Foundation, and the Journal of the Lewes Historical Society. Online and in-person, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15, 2023
Oysters Farming. Presented by Alan Davis, owner and operator of Inland Bays Shellfisheries, LLC, an oyster farm in Rehoboth Bay. Mr. Davis will share his journey into oyster farming and what the farming process is like. Online and in-person, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023
Sea Shanty Sing- Along. Join Zwaanendael historic interpreters Thomas Pulmano and Laurie Conner as they explore the history of sea shanties. Then, sailors young and old are encouraged to sing along to a few historic shanties. Online and in-person, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22, 2023
The Impact of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse on the US Lighthouse Service. Presenter Fred Dylla is a physicist with a long interest in the history of science and technology. Before retiring to Lewes in 2015, he was the Executive Director of the American Institute of Physics. Dylla co-moderates the “Science and Society” series at the Lewes Public Library. The presentation will explain the role the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse played in the conversion to safer “Fresnel” lenses. In-person, 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023
The Fenwick Island Lighthouse. Tracy Lewis will give a talk about the history of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse which still stands at the southern border of Delaware. In-person, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023
“The Battle of the Chesapeake.” Multi-media presentation by Historic-Site Interpreter Tom Welch on how the French fleet under Adm. de Grasse paved the way for the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at Yorktown and the ultimate victory for the American forces over the British. Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover. 1 p.m. Free admission. 302-744-5054 or OSHmuseum@delaware.gov.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. The program explores spinning, weaving, knitting and other fabric arts. Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. The event is held in the mansion dining room. 1–3 p.m. Free admission. 302-739-3277 or JDPmuseum@delaware.gov.
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023
Annual Lafayette’s Birthday Party. Celebration to feature the lecture “Lafayette’s Farewell Tour: A Primer” by Alan Hoffman, Esq., president of the American Friends of Lafayette. Hale-Byrnes House, 606 Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark. 3 p.m. Guests should bring a covered dish to pass. The admission charge includes coffee and dessert. 302-543-5723.
Friday, Sept. 22, 2023
National Estuaries Day Hike at the John Dickinson Plantation. Join DNERR and John Dickinson Plantation education staff for a free evening hike from the St. Jones Reserve to the John Dickinson Plantation and back. Learn about the natural and cultural history of the area while experiencing the twilight life of the St. Jones Estuary. 818 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. 5:30 p.m. 302-739-3277. Pre-registration is required. Register here: Science and History: Walking the connection from JDP and DNERR Tickets, Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023
Prince George’s Chapel open house. Tour this National-Register-of-Historic-Places-listed site that was built in 1755 as an Anglican chapel-of-ease named in honor of the English prince who would later become King George III. Prince George’s Chapel, 32040 Chapel Lane, Dagsboro. 1:30–4:30 p.m. Free admission. 302-321-9020.
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023
“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 S. Old Baltimore Pike, Newark. Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Limit 20 visitors per tour. Free admission but reservations are required by clicking here, by calling (302) 731-5780 or CBmuseum@delaware.gov.
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