Cape Henlopen State Park, Rehoboth Beach, and Historic Lewes
When William Penn, founder and father of Pennsylvania, was granted the lands of the state of Delaware in 1682, he declared that the natural resources of Cape Henlopen would be dedicated for the common use of the nearby settlements. This was the first known designation of “public land” in America. Located at the mouth of Delaware Bay, Cape Henlopen has played a strategic role in military history. During World War II, the U.S. Army established a military base complete with bunkers and guns at Cape Henlopen. Concrete observation towers were constructed along the coast. In the 1960s, some of this area was reacquired by the state of Delaware and was designated a state park. The old base, Fort Miles, was placed on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. One of the concrete observation towers remains and visitors can climb the 114 steps to the top for a 360-degree panoramic view of the cape, the bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
The 5,193-acre Cape Henlopen National Park a popular destination for tourists. Ocean beaches, the Gordon's Pond Wildlife Area, the 80-ft high dunes, and the salt marsh all contribute to an ideal habitat for wildlife and birds. The endangered piping plovers find a protected place to nest in the park. Amenities and attractions at Cape Henlopen State Park include horse, bicycle, and hiking trails, camping, swimming, and a popular fishing pier. Winter hunting is allowed in some areas of the park with a permit.
Located a mile away, the Dutch colony of Lewes, “The First Town in the First State", was founded in 1631. Originally called Zwaanendael, this community has played an important role in the founding of the country. The Ryves Holt House (circa 1665) is considered Delaware's oldest home. The Lewes Historical Society offers guided tours of historic Lewes. Self-guided tours are available for historic homes, a general store, a schoolhouse, and more. The Zwaanendael Museum contains artifacts from a British warship that sank of the coast in the late 1700s and houses exhibits on the 1813 British naval blockade and attack of Lewes.
Rehoboth Beach, one of Delaware’s top tourist attractions is located just to the south of Cape Henlopen State Park. Around the tip of the mouth of the Delaware Bay, the two miles of beaches at Rehoboth Beach face the Atlantic Ocean. Rehoboth Beach is known for its famous mile-long Boardwalk.
Cape Henlopen State Park is open year round, though some attractions and amenities in the park are seasonal.
Historic New Castle
Cobblestone streets reveal a lot about a city. They are usually indicative of a past and if you follow the streets, you’ll find a story, a delightful old mansion, or perhaps a rich history. The cobblestones of New Castle, Delaware tell the story of a four and a half century-old village located in eastern Delaware along the Delaware River.
In 1640, the Swedes had settled in the area, but within ten years, the Dutch had settled in and laid out the town. Led by Peter Stuyvesant, who became the Director-General for New Netherland, the city was dubbed Fort Casimir. Both the Dutch and the Swedes fought for control of this settlement and it changed hands several times. The Dutch regained control and in 1655, it was renamed New Amstel. Next, the British and the Dutch vied for control and the British named the town New Castle. Eventually given over to William Penn, who first landed at New Castle when he came to America, the actual ownership remained in dispute until the famous Mason-Dixon Line survey established the boundaries. Serving as an important hub in the Colonial days, the Colonial Assemblies met at New Castle and it was the first state capital. Three signatures on the Declaration of Independence belonged to New Castle residents.
The Town Square, the historic architecture, the quaint shops, and the cobblestones stand as a lasting monument to the first immigrants who fought to make this place their home. Today, visitors can explore the historic city and learn about its role in the founding of the nation. Museums and historic places include the former governor’s home, Amstel House (c. 1730), Immanuel Episcopal Church (1730), Old New Castle Court House (the original colonial capitol), Read House (a 14,000 sq. ft Georgian masterpiece built in 1801), Old "Dutch" House (built in the mid-1600s, this is the oldest dwelling in Delaware), the Old Presbyterian Church (1707) and many more.
Many of the historic attractions are open Tuesday through Sunday, and offer either guided or self-guided tours.
Winterthur Museum and Country Estate
The Pierre du Pont de Nemours family arrived in America in 1800 and settled in Brandywine Valley in Delaware. One of the two sons, E.I. du Pont started a gunpowder manufactory, with safe and reliable gunpowder. The E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company was an instant success, as the innovation gave man more control over guns and explosives. (Two hundred years later, DuPont is still a leading corporation in scientific innovations.)
In 1839, du Pont’s daughter Evalina and her husband built the Winterthur home, constructed on land just outside of Wilmington, Delaware that du Pont had purchased before his death. After Evalina’s death, her brother Henry, du Pont’s son, purchased the estate back from her family. Henry’s only son, Henry, a new Harvard graduate, took over management of the garden from his father in the early 1900s. Taking his responsibility seriously, Henry began developing new gardens and improving the old, having gathered many ideas while touring the great gardens of Europe. After his marriage in 1916, Henry turned his attention to American antiques and began a massive collection. He was determined to prove that a grand country estate, such as those found in England, could survive in America. In addition to his outstanding collection of antique, by this time, Henry had developed the estate’s farmland into a home for a heard of over 300 Holstein-Friesian cows. The estate was now so large and important that it had its own post office and railroad station.
At the end of the Roaring ‘20s, the du Ponts doubled the size of the house in order to provide a showcase for the collections. In 1951, the du Ponts moved into a smaller house on the estate and turned the main house over to the Winterthur Corporation, a non-profit institution that opened the Winterthur Museum to the public. Henry du Pont’s dream was fulfilled: “My idea of Winterthur is that it is a country estate Museum, to show the Americans of the future what a country place and farm were like. I consider this investment in a way will give quite as much pleasure to many, as the Museum has.” Today, over a quarter of a million people visit Winterthur Museum and Gardens each year.
The Winterthur Museum contains over 85,000 objects in the collection that date from 1640 to 1860. The main museum is over 96,000 square feet and showcases 175 period-room displays. The Winterthur Library contains more than 87,000 volumes and a half million images and manuscripts. There are 50 fireplaces (non-working) and an on-site fire department. The grounds of the Winterthur estate are filled with rolling hills, forests, streams, and peaceful meadows. The naturalistic gardens were carefully cultivated with plants from all over the world to provide a profusion of color from as early as January to as late as November. In 2001, the estate opened the Enchanted Woods, a 3-acre park that’s been transformed into a magical fairyland, specifically for children, but delightful to anyone with an imagination.
The museum and gardens are open Tuesday through Friday and is closed on Mondays (except Holidays), Thanksgiving. Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Library is open Monday through Friday. Dining and event facilities are on site.