During the Golden Age of Sail, the period from the mid-19th to the early 20th century -- when sailing vessels reached their peak of size and complexity -- the seaport of Lewes experienced tremendous growth. Ships headed to the port of Philadelphia would stop at Breakwater Harbor before proceeding up the bay and river Delaware.
Gather your materials, gather your thoughts, and come see us on the first Saturday of each month with the exception of January from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. for the Genealogist in Residence Program. Members of the Sussex County Genealogical Society, including Historic Lewes member and volunteer Iris Fisher, will be available to help anyone
Kiliaen van Rensselaer & The Dutch West India Company's Heroic Efforts to Colonize Delaware Kiliaen van Rensselaer, more than any person, had a vision of colonization for New Netherland (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware). Others focused on trade, especially on fur, and on making big profits for themselves. Van Rensselaer, the director of
Woodworking in the 18th and early 19th centuries has been CANCELED for this month. Check back for updates.
Historic Lewes Speaker Series - Alarm in the Firehouse! Workplace Discrimination In the early 1980s, Kevin Mallinson, an openly gay man, joined the Key West Fire Department. Over the subsequent years, he became the target of fierce and unrelenting homophobia taunts and assaults intended to force him out of the department. Even today, there is
John Thompson: Citizenship and Seafaring in the early American Republic Speaker: Andrew J. Lyter Pennsylvania-born John Thompson lived a volatile life defined by the sea. Born into British occupied Philadelphia in 1777, Thompson would overcome a life of adversity to pursue the life of a sailor. Witnessing and contributing to Philadelphia’s rise as America’s largest
Colonial Lewes – Before it was the First Town in the First State Guest Speaker: Jim Ruth September 24, 1773: By the time Peter Ruth and his fellow travelers from the Palatine region of Germany dropped anchor, across the portside rail nestled at the southern tip of the great bay, was a burgeoning anchorage called Lewes. For the first time
Highlights of the Women of Lewes is a Speaker Series talk that you won't want to miss and the perfect talk to attend during Women's History Month! From the earliest inhabitants to familiar modern figures, Denise Clemons will lead this important talk highlighting the accomplishments of the women who contributed to the history of Lewes.
In April 2022, less than a year after his father’s November 2021 passing, Darryl and his siblings came into possession of a cache of old family photos, many of which were stored in an old gold colored can by their late great great Aunt Elsie Daisey Draine. In September 2022 Darryl began sharing hundreds of the photos on the “Memories of Lewes” Facebook page. Unbeknownst to him and his family, the photos offered a rare glimpse into the African American history of Lewes from the late 1800s through the 1960s and would be used to facilitate and enrich the completion of the “Voices Heard: The History and Legacy of the Black Community in Lewes” documentary and exhibit.
Delaware, a border state, had a complex and divided stance during the American Civil War, reflecting the tensions that existed between Northern and Southern states at the time. Although Delaware remained loyal to the Union, it had strong Southern sympathies, especially in Sussex County, and was deeply divided socially and politically... Join us for our
