First State National Historical Park

Things To Do Near First State National Historical Park

First State National Historical Park is divided into six sites. A great way to get an overview of this area’s scenic beauty is to go on a hike in the Brandywine Valley. Then, head to Fort Christiana and Old Swedes National Historic Site to learn about an early Swedish community. See where John Dickinson, the Penman of the American Revolution, lived. Explore Delaware’s first state capital and the Green at Dover where the U.S. Constitution and women’s right to vote were both passionately debated. 

Hiking Trails

• River Trail 

  Head out through the Alluvial Forest on the River Trail. This trail starts on the river side near the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. See a 19th-century stone mill dam. Follow the boardwalk through the wetland before hiking through a floodplain meadow. End this hike at the Chadds Ford Historical Society Visitors’ Center. 

  Location

  1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania 19317 

  Length

  1 mile 

  Intensity

  Easy 

• Creekside Trail 

  Start hiking the Creekside Trail at the Thompson Bridge parking lot at Brandywine Creek State Park. Follow the single-track path across the Rocky Run Bridge. Then, follow the creek until you get to Rockland Mill. This trail can be rocky in places. Keep your eyes open for beaver activity along the creek. 

  Location

  Thompson Bridge, Brandywine Creek State Park, 41 Adams Dam Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19807 

  Length

  2.6 miles 

  Intensity

  Easy 

• Hidden Pond Trail 

  The Hidden Pond Trail begins behind the Brandywine Creek Nature Center. Follow the trail to see stone walls built in the 1800s on the DuPont Estate. This trail is often a great place to spot wildlife, especially in the meadows south of the course. Once you reach Hidden Pond, follow the path through deep forest canopy back to its starting point. 

  Location

  Brandywine Creek Nature Center, 41 Adams Dam Road, Wilmington, DE 19807

  Length

  2 miles

  Intensity

  Easy 

Sightseeing

• Fort Christina 

  Tour the site of the first permanent Swedish and Finnish settlement in America. See the rocks where the Kalmar Nyckel and the Fogel Grip made landfall.

  Location

  110 E. 7th Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 

• Old Swedes Historic Site 

  Visit Old Swedes Church, which was completed in 1699, to serve as a house of worship for Fort Christina settlers. See the artifacts located inside.

  Location

  600 North Church Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 

• John Dickinson Plantation

  Watch a short film about John Dickinson’s life at the visitors center. Then, tour this plantation with a guide. Learn the stories of John Dickinson’s father Samuel; Dinah, an enslaved woman owned by Samuel Dickinson who was later released from slavery by John Dickinson; John Dickinson’s wife Mary; William and Deborah White, tenant farmers at the John Dickinson Plantation; and John Furbee and Peter Patten, free Black men who rented farmland from Dickinson. You can also see exhibits related to early farm machinery. 

  Location

  340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, Delaware 19901

Museums

• Biggs Museum of American Art 

  View American fine and decorative art at the Biggs Museum of American Art. Be sure to see their regional silver exhibit. This is also a fantastic place to see decorative works by early American cabinetmakers. 

  Location

  406 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware 19961 

• Johnson Victrola Museum 

  Learn about the life of Eldridge Reeves Johnson, who invented the electric motor that powered Victrola record players at the Johnson Victrola Museum. Additionally, learn about the dog Nipper, who became a symbol for early quality vinyl recordings. 

  Location

  375 South New Street, Dover, Delaware 19901

• Zwaanendael Museum 

  The Zwaanendael Museum tells the story of Zwaanendael, which was the first permanent European settlement in Delaware. You will love seeing the stepped facade gable, terra cotta roof tiles, carved stonework, and decorated shutters at this building constructed in 1931. Inside, see exhibits on Sussex County history, shipwrecks, and lighthouses. 

  Location

  102 Kings Highway, Lewes, Delaware 19958

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• Country Expressions 

  Give yourself plenty of time to browse the large selection of merchandise at Country Expressions. You will find gifts, home decor, furniture, and antiques at this store, where the inventory is constantly changing. 

  Location

  1100 North Dupont Boulevard, Milford, Delaware 19963 

• Byler’s 

  Flags, dolls, toys, and candles are a few of the things you will find at Byler’s. Many of the items are handmade by the Amish. You will also want to check out their wide selection of groceries. 

  Location

  1 Liberty Plaza, Harrington, Delaware 19952 

• Fraizer's Restaurant and Bar 

  Enjoy dining on the patio as you watch the river flow by at Fraizer's Restaurant and Bar in downtown Dover. This is an excellent place to get great burgers, steaks, sandwiches, and wraps. This restaurant also has a wide selection of beers and cocktails. 

  Location

  9 East Loockerman Street, Dover, Delaware 19901 

• McGlynns Pub 

  Do not miss the chance to eat the bourbon-roasted salmon at McGlynns Pub. This restaurant has a friendly neighborhood vibe with stunning views of downtown Dover. The drinks are great at this Irish pub. 

  Location

  800 North State Street, Dover, Delaware 19901 

How To Get To First State National Historical Park

A great place to start your visit to First State National Historical Park is at the New Castle Court House. This building, which is one of the oldest courthouses in America, is filled with historical artifacts. You can get to New Castle Court House easily from Dover. Get on Kings Highway Southwest, which will become East Division Street before becoming Delaware 8. Turn left onto the Wilmington ramp, and follow Delaware 1 North. Use the left lane to exit onto U.S. 13 North. Turn right on Hamburg Road and left on Delaware 9 North. Keep going straight to get on South Street. Turn left on West 4th Street and right on Delaware Street. 

Address

New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, DE 19720

Fee: Entry fee $0

Since First State National Historical Park is spread across several locations in Delaware and Pennsylvania, so bring an RV to make moving between locations easy. Plan on spending several days hiking and exploring these sights around Delaware’s original capital. Bringing your RV makes it easy to rest, and you can prepare your meals so that you're fueled up and ready to learn more about these early American sites that were important to the signing of the U.S. Constitution.