The Old State House

08/21/2026

On this day in 1858

The Lincoln - Douglas debates began

One term Congressman Abraham Lincoln challenged incumbent Illinois Senator Stephen A Douglas to a series of debates to let the people of their state know where each candidate stood leading into that fall's general election. They held a total of seven debates.

Though Lincoln lost the election, these debates improved his recognition with average citizens and eventually made him a viable candidate for the presidency in 1860.

Another forgotten fact: Lincoln didn't start growing his famous beard until late 1860 when he received a letter suggesting facial hair would improve the look of his thin face and help him get votes. By the time he was sworn in as president, he had a full beard.

Image descriptions: a color portrait of a man wearing a white shirt, black jacket and black tie (Lincoln), and a black and white photograph of a man wearing a white high collar shirt, dark jacket and tie (Douglas)

08/18/2026

For anyone visiting Dover in the next few days and hoping to see the state capitol.

The Old State House will be open for our regular tours Wednesday through Saturday this week.

Next week, 8/17-8/21, Legislative Hall will be closed to visitors to ensure visitor safety while they are moving equipment around inside as they do work within the chambers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause!

08/15/2026

If you're still looking for something to do today, head to the John Dickinson Plantation to see this excellent program about loyalists in the American Revolution! The program starts at 10:30am and will be repeated at 2pm.

Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful weekend!

08/14/2026

On this day in 1966

Future Oscar winner Halle Berry was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

Though she is probably most widely-known for her performances as Storm in the successful X Men film franchise, Halle Berry became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in the film Monster's Ball.

Ms. Berry previously portrayed the first African American woman nominated for Best Actress in the 1999 HBO film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Ms. Dandridge was nominated for her role in the musical Carmen Jones in 1955 though the award that year went to Grace Kelly for her role in The Country Girl.

The night Ms. Berry won her award in 2002 also saw Denzel Washington take home the award for Best Actor for his performance in Training Day.

Image description: an African American woman wearing a black and white striped sleeveless dress

08/12/2026

Many times people ask us what the Old State House looked like before its restoration in the 1970s.

This photo negative is from 1961 and can be found in the General Photograph Collection of the Delaware Public Archives.

It left us wondering how loud it got inside the building if all those window air conditioning units were running on hot summer days, and how much was the building's electricity bill?

Image description: black and white photo negative of frontal exterior of brick building with window air conditioning units in most of the windows and the front door open.

Photo date: July 14, 1961
Department of State, Delaware Public Archives, General Photograph Collection
ID: 1325-003-036_05387n

07/30/2026

Some exciting upcoming programs next month at the New Castle Court House Museum!

It is time for our annual History Revival lecture series, and as part of the American Semiquincentennial, the 2026 theme is the American Revolution!

We will host these FREE presentations in our courtroom every Thursday in August at 7:00 PM.

August 6 - Truly a Public House: Women and Tavern Keeping w/ Jane Pilato, historical researcher and interpreter for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

August 13 - When the Declaration of Independence Was News w/ Dr. Emily Sneff, American historian, author, and expert on the Declaration of Independence

August 20 - The Fighting Along the Delaware River in 1777 w/ Michael C. Harris, historian and author of Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle That Lost Philadelphia but Saved America

August 27 - Loyalist Impression w/ Mark Wilson, Lead Historical Interpreter at the Zwaanendael Museum and Loyalist reenactor

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Image Description: Image of broadside-like flyer posted on red brick wall. Text on flyer reads "Notice! History Revival; Thursdays in August 7:00 pm" and "New Castle Court House Museum" and includes titles, speaker names, dates, and brief descriptions of the talks (full descriptions can be found at https://history.delaware.gov/2026/07/27/history-revival-at-new-castle-court-house-museum/). There is also a woodcut image similar to the seal on the Delaware flag included in the flyer design.

Image Credit: Soldier with Musket and Farmer with Hoe Holding Crest Topped with Sailing Ship. Ca. 1789 - 1805. Woodcut. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b06779/.

07/29/2026

On this day in 1776

The Declaration of Independence was read to the people of Dover for the first time!

It took place from the porch of the Kent County Courthouse that stood on the site of the Old State House. The people of Dover were so excited that they stormed the King George Tavern (located on the site of the 1873 Kent County Courthouse), tore down a portrait of the king and burned it in a fire on Courthouse Square (now known as the Green)

Image description: a flag with seven red stripes and six white stripes and a blue canton in the upper left with thirteen stars. Second picture: A brick cutout on the north side of the State House where the porch from the 1722 courthouse stood

07/28/2026

The Delaware Public Archives is hosting a program, One Nation Under God this Saturday at 10:30am!

DELAWARE SNAPSHOT 📸
Mixing Politics & the Pulpit
This Saturday, the Delaware Public Archives presents “One Nation Under God,” the fascinating story of the Reverend Thomas Read, brother of Founding Father George Read. The reverend led Old Drawyer’s Presbyterian Church near Odessa, shown here much later, where Thomas McKean was among its prominent members. Read urged parishioners to support American independence and helped the cause by providing George Washington with intelligence and critical tactical maps. No registration is needed for the First Saturday program presented by Bruce Bendler at 10:30 a.m. August 1 in the archives at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Dover.
– Compiled by robin brown, writer in residence
Delaware Public Archives
General Photograph Collection
Photo: 1906
ID: 1325-006-003_001p_