News Release
NPS Photo
News Release Date: May 3, 2016
Contact: Lorin Felter, 302-544-6363
NEW CASTLE, Del. - Have you heard of First State National Historical Park yet? If not, that’s probably because it’s one of the newest national parks in the system. With our establishment in 2013, Delaware was the final piece of the national park puzzle. Now all 50 states have a national park unit! First State is made up of seven sites throughout Delaware that collectively tell stories of courageous historical figures, epic journeys, and ideas of freedom, conservation, and prosperity that shaped the nation’s first state.
The story begins in 1631 when Dutch settlers arrived in current-day Lewes, Delaware, in search of a fresh start in the New World. Explore the history of their Swanendael settlement, named for the beautiful swans found in the area, at the Delaware’s oldest house, the Ryves Holt House. Swedish and Finnish settlers followed in 1638, landing at “the rocks” on the Christina River in the area now known as Wilmington. A monument marking the site of their Fort Christina settlement and the Old Swedes Church around the corner are reminders of the early Swedish influence on Delaware. Read more.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 411national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Last updated: June 30, 2016