Happy National Delaware Day! Today we observe the 1st state to join the union back on December 7, 1787.
A small Mid-Atlantic United States, Delaware sits on a peninsula marked by dune-backed beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware River and Delaware Bay.
In Dover, the capital, First State Heritage Park encompasses 18th-century Colonial landmarks like the Georgian-style Old State House. The city of Wilmington is known for the Riverfront, a waterside district of parks, boutiques and restaurants.
Today recognizes Delaware as the first state to declare independence from the British.
Rich in history, Delaware’s lands once belonged to New York and later Pennsylvania. However, the independent spirit of this beautiful coastal countryside is more than just legendary.
The Delaware River and Bay derived their names from the 12th Baron del la Warr, Thomas West, a governor of Virginia. The name later carried over to the land as well.
During the Second Continental Congress, Delaware’s delegates created a bit of suspense for the history books! Read more under Caesar Rodney and George Read.
Delaware became official in 1776 when the thirteen colonies declared their independence from the British government and Delaware adopted its first territorial state constitution.
Delaware is proud of its First State status. With that comes many other firsts. Delaware boasts the earliest Swedish settlers in 1638 who built the Old Swedes Church which still stands.
Now known as the Holy Trinity Church, it is one of the oldest churches in America. Swedish settlers built the first log cabins on American soil as well.
The Stars and Stripes flew for the first time during the Revolutionary War during the only battle to take place on Delaware soil.
In 1840, shipbuilding became big business first in Delaware. The first iron shipbuilding yard in the United States was founded in Delaware by Samuel Harlan of Betts, Pussey, and Harlan – machinery makers.
From ships to rails, Job H. Jackson and Jacob F. Sharp founded the Jackson and Sharp Company of Wilmington in 1863. By 1871, they had built the first narrow-gauge railcar in the United States.
In 1880, the coastal state also lays claim to the first bathing beauty contest. To attract business to a summer festival, the competition was held at Rehoboth Beach. Thomas Edison was one of the judges.
Known as the Chemical State, Delaware is a hub for manufacturing and munitions. In 1939, the world’s first nylon manufacturing plant opened in Seaford under the name of Dupont.
Delaware has a handful of other nicknames, too. These include the Blue Hen State (its state bird), the Diamond State (because of the first star on the International Star Registry to be registered to an American state) and the Small Wonder (due to its size and the contributions it has made to our country as a whole and the beauty of the state).
From land to sea, Delaware satisfies the appetite all season long. Once known as the best producer of peaches until a blight wiped out the orchards in the late 1800s, the state is making a comeback, and the peach blossom is their state flower.
Summer boardwalks and beaches fill with the salty sweetness of taffy and crab cakes made from the regions’ blue crab.
The world’s largest maker of scrapple, RAPA Scrapple Company, calls Bridgeville, Delaware home.
it is also the home of the World Champion Pumpkin Chucking (or for rhyming purposes Pumpkin Chunkin or Pumpkin Chunking) competition in the heartland of the state, an autumn drive will fill your basket with fresh produce, poultry and the season’s best baked and canned goods the farmers’ markets can produce.
Explore the history and people of this beautiful state and use #NationalDelawareDay to share on social media.
In 2017, National Day Calendar® began celebrating each state in the order they entered the union starting the week of Independence Day and ending with Hawaii.
They highlight a small part of each states’ history, foods, and the people who make up the state. There’s so much more to explore!
Winterthur's Enchanted Woods – Winterthur
The Newark Reservoir – Newark
The Goodstay Gardens – Wilmington
The Biggs Museum of American Art – Dover
The Lightship Overfalls – Lewes
C.R. Hummingbird to Mars – Wilmington
Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar – Wilmington
Blackbird Creek Reserve – Townsend
3 Palms Zoo & Education Center – Clayton
Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge – Wilmington
We also observe these famous figures born in Delaware of whom are still recognized today for their past accomplishments, heroics, talents, ingenuity and innovations: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Dr. Robert Montgomery Bird, George Alfred Townsend, Dr. Henry Heimlich, Daniel Nathans, E.I Du Pont, Judge Reinhold, Valerie Bertinelli, Elisabeth Shue and Teri Polo.
Visit the link below to see those of notable birth who were not mentioned on the list above.
Here's to The First State!
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@scrapple
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