First State National Historical Park
Explore the seven distinct sites that make up one historical park in Delaware, USA.
DE First State National Historical ParkNational Park Service
First State National Historical Park is unique because it is not a single, fenced-in nature reserve like Yellowstone. Instead, it is a collection of seven distinct historic sites spread across Delaware (and a tiny sliver of Pennsylvania).
Page One of the United States Constitution by National Archives and National Park ServiceNational Park Service
It gets its name because Delaware was the very first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787. These select seven sites help tell the story of the state’s early settlement and its role in the founding of the United States.
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1. The Dover Green
First up is The Green. This is the historic public square in Delaware's capital, Dover, where the state ratified the Constitution.
2. New Castle Court House Museum and Green
Built in 1732, New Castle Court House served as Delaware's first capital building. It is one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the country.
3. Fort Christina National Historic Landmark
The site in Wilmington where Swedish and Finnish settlers first landed in 1638, establishing the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley.
4. Old Swedes Historic Site
Also in Wilmington, originally built in 1698, Old Swedes is one of the oldest churches in the country still standing and holding regular services.
5. John Dickinson Plantation
The childhood home of John Dickinson, known as the "Penman of the Revolution." Dickinson was famous for his pivotal writing in the lead-up to the American Revolution.
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6. Ryves Holt House
Located in the coastal town of Lewes, Ryves Holt House, built around 1665, is the oldest surviving house in Delaware.
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7. The Brandywine Valley
Unlike the historic buildings, this is a beautiful 1,100-acre natural area with rolling hills, forests, and miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and kayaking along the Brandywine River.
DE sheriff houseNational Park Service
Because these sites are spread across the state, you can easily build your own itinerary—exploring centuries of early American history and preserved farmland at your own pace.
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