First State National Historical Park

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First State National Historical Park.

⚠️ Park Safety Alert ⚠️Please use extra caution when visiting the Brandywine Valley following recent weather. Trails may...
09/02/2026

⚠️ Park Safety Alert ⚠️

Please use extra caution when visiting the Brandywine Valley following recent weather. Trails may have downed branches, debris, or damaged limbs hanging overhead. Creeks and rivers are also running high, so please keep a safe distance from waterways and do not cross flooded areas.

🚧 Beaver Dam Road is currently closed. Please follow posted closures and use alternate routes.

Before you keep scrolling, take some time to read this squirrely tale! 🐿️Throughout the mid-late nineteenth century, squ...
08/31/2026

Before you keep scrolling, take some time to read this squirrely tale! 🐿️

Throughout the mid-late nineteenth century, squirrels were intentionally released in East Coast city parks such as Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City to add natural beauty and boost public interest in natural spaces.

In 1944, the Trustees of the Market Square and Old Court House followed suit. The New Castle Green was in a state of decline because it lacked employees that could maintain the green. To counter this decline, the Trustees of the Market Square and the Old Court House cleared loose vegetation from a landscaping job that sat for several weeks and released squirrels onto the green. Additionally, they placed cages in trees on the green to encourage them to live there. The squirrels eventually expanded their homes to include other areas around Historic New Castle such as The Strand and Battery Park.

Although releasing squirrels in a public space may seem squirrelly to us today, it is important to note that these now-common animals were once part of a larger movement to beautify cities and offer people a natural escape from busy urban life.



Sources: The News Journal. (1944, May 17). The News Journal; The News Journal. (1944, July 1). The News Journal.
NPS Photos

As the weather begins to cool down, the Brandywine Valley is a great place to witness the natural transition into fall w...
08/29/2026

As the weather begins to cool down, the Brandywine Valley is a great place to witness the natural transition into fall with your fury friends. While the Park Rangers love meeting visitors’ furry friends out on the trails, it is important to make sure that you and your pet are safe, by following these simple rules in mind when walking your dog (or cat):

🦮 Keeping your pet on a leash isn’t just great practice for protecting your pet from any ticks, briers, and wildlife but it’s a federal law. Additionally, please make sure that your pet’s leash is no longer than six feet.

🤎It is never fun to find pet waste on the trails! Please dispose of your pet’s waste in a trash can rather than leaving it outside.

🥾Make sure to keep your dog on a marked trail, as following unmarked trails negatively affects the park’s natural life.

For further information about park rules and regulations in the Brandywine Valley, visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/frst/planyourvisit/brandywine-valley.htm

📢 Shoutout to Rachel, our AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate serving First State at the John Dickinson Plantation!Rachel’...
08/28/2026

📢 Shoutout to Rachel, our AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate serving First State at the John Dickinson Plantation!

Rachel’s summer project focused on transforming “Five Stories,” an in-person exhibit at John Dickinson Plantation, into a new online experience. Rachel researched the featured individuals and their descendants, adapted the exhibit text for a digital audience, and created infographics to bring these stories to life online and make them accessible to a broader audience.

Being a VISTA at First State means diving headfirst into the rich and diverse history of Delaware. We are grateful to her for all the work she has done to make the park’s history more accessible to the public.


Photo Credit: Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs

Are you looking for something to keep you busy while learning something new? If so, on September 3, at 7:00 p.m., the Ne...
08/26/2026

Are you looking for something to keep you busy while learning something new? If so, on September 3, at 7:00 p.m., the New Castle Court House Museum is hosting a free event that checks those boxes!

As part of the Court House’s History Revival Speaker Series, Charles “Chuck” Fithian will be leading an hour-long discussion about the role the Delaware River played in the Revolutionary War. Fithian holds a master’s degree in history from Salisbury University, and his research focuses on the social history and material culture of the colonial era and the Revolutionary War.

The New Castle Court House Museum is located at 211 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE, 19720, and free street parking is available throughout Historic New Castle. For additional information about the event, please contact the Court House at [email protected].

We hope to see you there!

Don’t glaze over our clay-mazing pottery! Park Rangers from First State National Historical Park visited the Pilot Schoo...
08/20/2026

Don’t glaze over our clay-mazing pottery!

Park Rangers from First State National Historical Park visited the Pilot School to talk to students about archeology and pottery. They were invited to paint their own terracotta pot and plant a native seed in it.

At First State NHP, discovering pottery is a possibility when we dig holes for things like signposts. Pottery is one of the most universal human tools, having been invented over 29,000 years ago. It spans thousands of years and is found in nearly all cultures.

Throughout history, many different people have called the Brandywine Valley unit of First State NHP home, and they left behind remnants of their pottery for us to find. Sometimes artifacts can get washed out by storms and flooding too.

If you ever find any materials in the park that resemble artifacts, make sure to leave it where you found it and contact us by emailing [email protected].


At First State National Historical Park, many fantastic foxes live and play in the Brandywine Valley unit!The Red Fox is...
08/15/2026

At First State National Historical Park, many fantastic foxes live and play in the Brandywine Valley unit!

The Red Fox is one of two species of foxes found in Delaware, and they often live in wooded areas close to farmland and agricultural fields. They are primarily active in the early morning and nighttime, but during their breeding season from March – April, they search for potential mates during the daytime. Red Foxes are omnivores and their diet consists of animals and plants including small rodents, birds, reptiles, nuts and insects. Families consist of between three and six kits and until the kits are old enough to join their parents on a hunting trip, their parents leave them alone for long spells at their den.

When visiting First State NHP, keep your eyes out for a Red Fox, and decide for yourself what makes them so fantastic!

Do you have a passion for trails? 🌳First State National Historical Park is looking for dedicated Volunteer Trail Steward...
08/06/2026

Do you have a passion for trails? 🌳

First State National Historical Park is looking for dedicated Volunteer Trail Steward Leaders to help care for more than 27 miles of trails in the beautiful Brandywine Valley.

As a Trail Steward Leader, you'll guide small volunteer crews, coordinate trail maintenance projects, teach safe tool use, and help protect the park's scenic and historic landscapes. Most importantly, you'll foster a welcoming and rewarding volunteer experience while helping preserve these special places for future generations.

Selected Trail Steward Leaders will complete a federal background check and receive National Park Service training. Once cleared, you'll have access to park facilities as needed and work alongside your NPS point of contact to identify, schedule, and complete trail stewardship projects throughout the Brandywine.

Apply here: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000JrFUDYA3/trail-steward-leader

Despite its name, the Connecticut Warbler is one of many bird species that can be found in Delaware and call First State...
08/05/2026

Despite its name, the Connecticut Warbler is one of many bird species that can be found in Delaware and call First State National Historical Park home!

Although Alexander Wilson first identified and named the Connecticut Warbler in Connecticut in 1812, these yellow birds live throughout the eastern United States during the late spring to early fall before flying to South America for the winter months. The Connecticut Warbler’s diet consists of spiders, insects, berries and seeds. They live in wooded areas near water and bogs, and during their breeding months of late May through June, they are commonly found in bogs with tamarack and black spruce trees.

Connecticut Warblers are difficult to spot in the wild, but they often are found walking the forest floor. Male Connecticut Warblers are identifiable by their gray hoods, yellow bellies and olive backs, but females’ fainter colors make their hoods appear brown.

When visiting First State NHP, keep an eye out for a Connecticut Warbler!



(Photo Credit: Declan O'Neil)

🚨ANNOUNCEMENT🚨: National Park Service Proposes Rule to Allow Bicycle Use on Designated Trails at First State National Hi...
07/29/2026

🚨ANNOUNCEMENT🚨:
National Park Service Proposes Rule to Allow Bicycle Use on Designated Trails at First State National Historical Park.

Public invited to review proposal and submit comments.

WILMINGTON, Del. — The National Park Service is proposing to allow bicycle use on approximately 25 miles of designated trails within the Brandywine Valley unit of First State National Historical Park and is seeking public comment on the proposed rule from July 30 through Sept. 28.

The proposal would authorize the superintendent to designate existing and planned shared-use trails for bicycle use consistent with the park's completed Brandywine Valley Trail Plan. If finalized, the rule would provide new recreational opportunities while supporting visitor safety, resource protection, and sustainable trail management.

The Brandywine Valley trail system is a popular year-round destination for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. Bicycling has long been a common recreational activity in the surrounding landscape, and the proposed rule would formally designate trails within the National Historical Park where bicycle use would be allowed.

"The proposed rule reflects years of planning and public engagement to create a sustainable trail network that expands recreational opportunities while protecting the park's natural and cultural resources," said Superintendent Joshua Boles. "We encourage everyone with an interest in the future of these trails to review the proposal and share their feedback."

In 2022, the NPS began developing a comprehensive trail plan to improve connectivity, visitor experience, and long-term sustainability within the Brandywine Valley unit. Following publication of the draft Brandywine Valley Trail Plan and Environmental Assessment in July 2024 and completion of the environmental review process in November 2024, the NPS selected a preferred alternative that includes constructing approximately 8.5 miles of new shared-use trails and improving approximately 15 miles of existing trails.

The NPS invites the public to review the proposed rule and submit comments during the 60-day public comment period starting on July 30. Comments received will be considered before a final rule is issued.

Additional information about the proposed rule, including how to submit comments, is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-15406/first-state-national-historical-park-bicycling

About First State National Historical Park

Established in 2013, First State National Historical Park preserves nationally significant sites that tell the story of Delaware's early settlement, its role in the founding of the United States, and the state's contributions to the nation's history. The park includes sites across Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania that reflect more than 400 years of American history.

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10 Market Street
New Castle, DE
19720

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+13025446363

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