The Old State House

The Old State House Completed in 1791 and located on the historic Green, the Old State House was the first permanent capitol building in Dover. Admission is FREE!!

Open most State Holidays. The Old State House was the first permanent capitol building in Dover, Delaware. Begun in 1787 and completed by May 1791, this Georgian-style structure was originally home to both state and Kent County governments. Located on the historic Green in Dover, the Old State House has served as a focal point in the state's civic life for over two centuries and continues to hold a special place in the eyes of Delawareans and visitors alike.

Come out Saturday afternoon and check out our special program!
06/03/2026

Come out Saturday afternoon and check out our special program!

On this day 100 years agoFuture Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. In the 1950s and early 196...
06/01/2026

On this day 100 years ago

Future Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. In the 1950s and early 1960s she became one of Fox's biggest stars in movies like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire and Some Like It Hot.

Best known for her comedic roles she tried several times to perform in dramas like Niagara and Don't Bother to Knock, but audiences wouldn't accept the buxom blonde s*x symbol in parts with more depth.

Throughout her short life she became a huge star who battled mental health issues and died in August 1962 at age 36.

More than 60 years after her death Monroe's image is still one of the most recognized in the world

Image description: a color photograph of a blonde haired woman in a white short sleeved shirt wearing a necklace

Luckily, the Johnson Victrola Museum is only undergoing some renovations and expects to be reopened sometime this Fall. ...
05/29/2026

Luckily, the Johnson Victrola Museum is only undergoing some renovations and expects to be reopened sometime this Fall. Until then enjoy this photo they posted of its original construction.

Since we are currently closed for renovations, it seems like an appropriate time to reflect and share this flashback photo. Here is an image of JVM during its early construction phase.

Description: A crane sets roof trusses for the Johnson Memorial Building (Johnson Victrola Museum). This negative was taken in the morning of August 15, 1966.

Photo via: Delaware Public Archives

The Old State House is open special holiday hours for Memorial Day Monday May 25th from 10 to 4:30.If you're in Downtown...
05/23/2026

The Old State House is open special holiday hours for Memorial Day Monday May 25th from 10 to 4:30.

If you're in Downtown Dover stop by and visit with us!

Image description: the front of a brick building with a set of marble steps flanked by black iron hand rails leading to an open front door

On this day in 1932Amelia Earhart became the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. This broug...
05/21/2026

On this day in 1932

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. This brought her fame and helped encourage young women's interest in aviation and science.

Earhart's adventure came five years after Charles Lindbergh became the first person to achieve the same feat.

Earhart later disappeared while trying to complete a trip around the world in 1937. Her disappearance sparked a massive search and rescue operation which had no luck and what happened to her remains unknown.

Image description: a black and white photo of a smiling woman with close cropped hair wearing an open collared checkered shirt with a jacket and a scarf tied around her neck

05/18/2026

Just under a month from now Dover Con returns!

The Old State House will be hosting a Super Smash Bros. tournament run by Small Town Gaming. Come check out all the fun!

Today is the anniversary of the 1954 Brown v Board decision!Check out this post from Delaware Public Archives discussing...
05/18/2026

Today is the anniversary of the 1954 Brown v Board decision!

Check out this post from Delaware Public Archives discussing Delaware's contribution.

DELAWARE SNAPSHOT 📸
Delaware’s Role in Brown v. Board
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously banned school segregation in Brown v. Board of Education, consolidating five cases, two of them appealed from Delaware: Belton v. Gebhart, fighting Claymont High segregation, and Bulah v. Gebhart, against busing only white kids in Hockessin – both argued and won by Louis L. Redding, our state’s first lawyer of color. In 2025, Claymont Community Center at the old high school, renovated Hockessin Colored School No. 107 and Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, once the state’s only high school for African Americans, were added to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
– Compiled by robin brown, Writer in Residence
Delaware Public Archives
Reference Collections
Life Magazine
Ethel Belton, Claymont High School
Photo: 1954
ID: 9270-000-001_556_

As we get closer to the nation's 250th birthday in a couple months an interesting question came up:What qualifies someon...
05/14/2026

As we get closer to the nation's 250th birthday in a couple months an interesting question came up:

What qualifies someone to be called a Founding Father or Founding Mother?

Image description: An American flag with seven red and six white stripes and a blue canton in the upper left corner with thirteen stars in a circular shape.

We were so pleased to host this event earlier this week and to continue our partnership with Delaware Department of Educ...
05/07/2026

We were so pleased to host this event earlier this week and to continue our partnership with Delaware Department of Education

Address

25 The Green
Dover, DE
19901

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13027445054

Website

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