Series: Historic Benchmarks: New Castle and the Making of a Nation

Founded by Dutch settlers in 1651 and once Delaware’s colonial capital, New Castle reflects national history on a local scale. Shaped by immigration, industry, and transportation, the town’s past mirror's broader American themes. This Historic Benchmarks article series, supported in part by Delaware250, explores New Castle’s layered history and Delaware’s role in shaping the nation.

  • First State National Historical Park

    Article 1: Deemer's Beach Amusement Park

    People standing on a wooden dock with a steamboat at the end.

    At the turn of the 20th century, leisure time expanded, fueling the rise of public recreation. In the 1920s, industrialist Sheldon S. Deemer created Deemer’s Beach along New Castle’s riverfront, a popular amusement park reached by trolley, car, or steamboat. Featuring rides, entertainment, and waterfront attractions, it thrived until pollution, the Great Depression, and a 1933 hurricane forced its closure, leaving a lasting local legacy. Read more

  • First State National Historical Park

    Article 2: Ferries Across the River

    Brochure advertising New Castle-Pennsville Ferry.

    Ferries once commonly transported people and vehicles across waterways, before the construction of major bridges allowed travelers to drive directly over them. Learn about the once-booming ferry service that made New Castle an important connection for travelers. Read more

  • First State National Historical Park

    Article 3: Fishing in New Castle

    People standing on a wooden dock, below them a man stands in a small wooden boat.

    Learn about the once abundant fishing industry in New Castle, Delaware. Photo Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society. Read more

  • First State National Historical Park

    Article 4: New Castle Common: For the People

    Land set aside for public use in New Castle dates to the 1700s. Today, 600 acres remain under the stewardship of the Trustees of the New Castle Common, preserving this historic commitment to shared land for the community. Read more

  • First State National Historical Park

    Article 5: Entrusted with the Land: Trustees of the New Castle Common

    three story square brick building with a tunnel in the middle.

    The New Castle Common was land set aside for public use and protected in 1764 by a board of trustees. Over time, the Trustees managed and leased the land to fund public projects like streets, schools, and fire services. They still oversee the Common today for the benefit of New Castle’s residents. Read more

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