First State National Historical Park — Delaware Street
New Castle, DE Location

211 Delaware Street
New Castle, DE   19720Driving Directions
Phone: (302)544-6363(302)544-6363 Maps & Directions

https://www.nps.gov/frst/planyou...

National Historical Park

Operating Hours & Seasons

Standard operating hours are included below, however, those hours change seasonally at each of the seven sites. Please visit the "Operating Hours & Seasons" page for links to partner websites.

Beaver Valley (Woodlawn Tract)

Beaver Valley (Woodlawn Tract) consists of 1,100 acres of rolling hills and wooded areas are located along the Brandywine River and the arced border between northern Delaware and southern Pennsylvania.

Standard Hours

• Sunday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Monday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Tuesday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Wednesday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Thursday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Friday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Saturday: Sunrise - Sunset

Fort Christina

Fort Christina is closed, except for special events. It is open during the summer, from Memorial Day (May 27th) to Labor Day (September 5th), Tuesday through Friday from 11am -4pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. It was here, along the banks of the Christina River over 375 years ago, that the first Swedish and Finnish American settlers aboard the Kalmar Nyckel and the Fogel Grip landed and settled the first American Swedish colony, New Sweden.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:12:00 PM-4:00 PM
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM

Additional Information View More

• Memorial Day - Labor Day
  
• Tuesday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM

Old Swedes Church

Generally open Wednesday-Saturday. Hours change seasonally.

Standard Hours

• Sunday: Closed
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM

New Castle Court House Museum

Historic New Castle served as the colonial capital of Delaware until 1777 and provides valuable stories of our country's earliest settlers and founding fathers. The museum is closed on state holidays.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:1:30 PM-4:30 PM
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Thursday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Friday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Saturday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM

The Green, Dover

William Penn established the town of Dover in 1683. As surveyed in 1717, the town featured three public squares including The Green.

Standard Hours

• Sunday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Monday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Tuesday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Wednesday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Thursday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Friday: Sunrise - Sunset
• Saturday: Sunrise - Sunset

John Dickinson Plantation

Home to John Dickinson, known as the "penman of the Revolution" because his writings helped inspire colonial opposition to Great Britain, this site was built in 1739 and located about 6 miles southeast of The Green in Dover.

Standard Hours

• Sunday: Closed
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Thursday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Friday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Saturday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM

Ryves Holt House

This house, built in 1665 in Lewes, Delaware by early Dutch settlers, is thought to be built thirty years after the destruction of the nearby ill-fated Zwaanendael colony, one of the first Dutch settlements in America, and first European settlement in Delaware. The Lewes Historical Society's hours are subject to change, so please refer to their website for updated hours.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:12:00 PM-4:00 PM
• Monday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM

Additional Information View More

• Open Winter Hours:
• January 1 - March 30
• Sunday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Monday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: Closed
• Friday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $0.00 - First State Fees
  There are no fees to visit First State National Historical Park. Some partner sites may charge a small fee for special programs.

Entrance Passes:

• $0.00 - First State Passes
  First State National Historical Park does not sell or accept park passes, because we are a fee-free park.

About

From First Settlement to First State

Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a distinct character that tolerated diversity in religion and national origin and valued independence.

Directions

Seven sites make up First State National Historical Park in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania. For details and directions for each site, please visit the visitor centers page below.

Visitor Centers

There are seven sites throughout the state that collectively tell First State National Historical Park's story, and can be visited in any order. Currently, the park does not have one, central visitor center. However, each site has some type of welcome center where you will receive informaiton about the site and available tours.