A message from Delaware Governor, Ruth Ann Minner
There is no place quite like Delaware. Escape to “Chateau Country” for riveting landscapes made famous by Andrew Wyeth’s paintings. Watch the sun rise over the ocean at the Great Dune near Lewes and a great blue heron as it takes flight from the marshlands of Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge. This year, retrace history along the Nanticoke and Broad Creek rivers with the Captain John Smith Reenactment Voyage.
Our state capital, Dover, is home to one of the most beautifully preserved capitol complexes in the nation, captured by the First State Heritage Park. Old New Castle is a charming town to visit with its original cobblestone streets, colonial homes and guided historical tours. And don’t forget the coastal town of Lewes, which tells the story of Delaware’s seafaring past that dates back to the 1600s.
Enjoy the best opera, dance, drama and music or get inspired by a showcase of galleries featuring our state’s finest artists. Shop tax-free at Delaware’s brand name outlet stores, boutiques and antique shops.
We invite you to experience the wonder and diversity the First State has to offer. Delaware, it’s good being first.
Featured Attractions & Events
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Killens Pond State Park
Natural and recreational opportunities abound at Killens Pond State Park, centrally located in the heart of Kent County. The park's centerpiece is the 66-acre millpond which features boating and fishing. The all new Killens Pond Water Park offers resort entertainment in a serene, natural setting. Only about an 1½ hour drive from either the northern or southern boundary, Killens Pond makes a perfect home base for exploring the First State. Open year-round, the park's campground and cozy cabins are popular retreats no matter what the season. The millpond was established in the late 1700's. Prior to the pond's creation, the Murderkill River and surrounding hardwood forest were sites of several Native American homes and hunting camps. According to legend, the river's unusual name refers to a local tribe's massacre of a Dutch trading party at the mouth of the river in 1648. Now a peaceful oasis, Killens Pond became a state park in 1965.
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Governor Ross Mansion and Plantation
A restored Italian Villa-style structure circa 1859, featuring a three-story entry tower. Once a 1400-acre plantation, it today consists of 20 acres and features eight unique outbuildings, including a log slave quarter and honeymoon cottage. Docents available for tours. Buses welcome. Group rates. Special events.
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Willingtown Square
Six historic Wilmington homes moved int the mid-1970s to create an urban park. Part of the Delaware History Center complex operated by the Historical Society of Delaware.
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Air Mobility Command Museum
An excellent collection of military aircraft, from a combat veteran C-47 and the first C-141A to the only remaining C-54M modified to haul coal during the Berlin Airlift. A beautifully restored B-17 sits proudly beside a P-51. Entertaining and educational exhibits for visitors of all ages.
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Read House & Gardens
Built in 1801 and furnished in the federal and colonial revival styles, this elegant mansion endures as one of the foremost examples of federal-style architecture. It overlooks the Delaware River and is surrounded by a 1-1/2 acre formal garden.
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