Exploring the History of the "Small Wonder" of Delaware

I am a history nerd! 

As a result, #Delaware makes me happy because of its historical significance. The state may be small, but it is the FIRST state of this country. Of course, I was much inclined to check out some #historicsites this states has to offer. Here are two #touristattractions that I highly recommend you check out.

1. Delaware Historical Society:

Website: http://www.dehistory.org/

Although this is a very small #museum, it is a very informative one! A few helpful things to know:

• If you are around Wilmington the first Friday of the month, admission is waived.  Take advantage of some #Free99.

• Beware that it has a very odd operating schedule, so it is something to double check before visiting. 

The museum features some great exhibits tracing Delaware's history of...

A. Slavery

#DidYouKnow that Delaware was not included in the Emancipation Proclamation? Even though it was a slaveholding state, it did not leave the Union to fight for the South. 

B. Big Corporations

#DidYouKnow that Delaware has chartered most of the nation's large, nonbank corporations? Since the early 1900s, over 60% of Fortune 500 companies are chartered in Delaware. New Jersey used to be the "Mother of Corporations" until some antitrust laws were passed. At that point, Delaware decided to adopt similar laws minus the antitrust laws and charge significantly lower fees. 

C. Educational System

#DidYouKnow: In the early 1900s, Delaware had one of the worst education systems in history? It was ranked 39th out of 48 states. The DuPont family actually donated to 80 new schools for black students in Delaware with the goal of alleviating this issue.

---

2. Delaware Art Museum:

Website: http://www.delart.org/

Whenever I travel to other states, I try to visit an #artmuseum. It is a good way to discover: 1) an area's history 2) how much they value art (depending on how much time and money they invest into curating their exhibits). I love me some art!

Delaware, being as small as it is, has one major art museum. It appears to be located in the middle of nowhere considering that you must drive past a creek to get there. However, the area itself is GORGEOUS. Isolated from the downtown area, there are many large homes and mansions. 

I was very persistent in going to this art museum after discovering that every Thursday this museum is open until 8pm AND it is (yes, you guessed it!) FREE! Can I get an "AMEN"?

I did not know what to expect when I arrived in a cab ride to the museum. I told my cab ride to come back for me in a half hour, thinking it would be small. I was VERY wrong. The museum is MASSIVE. There were over 15 galleries. I spent 45 minutes at the museum and I was rushing it. Who knew this treasure existed in Delaware? Galleries ranged from federalist art to modern art.

There was even a new exhibit that was curated very recently that is worth checking out. It features many cool illustrations! There is even a free audio tour to accompany it.

---

3. Just walk around!

When you walk around, you will notice lots of monuments and statues that reflect the history of the state. There is also just lots of nature to enjoy :-).

!!! PIN IT !!!

Which museum have you visited that exceeded your expectations? Comment below!