The Delaware Tourism Office re-launched the Delaware History Trail.
The relaunch offers visitors seven new locations and a unique online “passport” they can use to track their travels on the trail, which was initially launched in 2011.
In its updated form, the trail allows visitors to qualify for a new prize once they upload their photos of 10 of the 29 locations to VisitDelaware.com/history. Qualified participants will receive a limited-edition, 100-piece Delaware history-themed puzzle.
“For more than a decade now, the Delaware History Trail has provided an exciting way for people from inside and outside the state to get an inspiring look at Delaware’s long, rich story,” said Gov. John Carney. “This is a way to not only hear about the past, but to experience the places where history happened.”
Several new locations have been added to the trail, including the Delaware Agricultural Museum, the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel, Hagley Museum & Library, Milton Historical Society, the Nanticoke Indian Museum, Nemours Estate, and Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park. The trail’s experiences emphasize Delaware’s role in the nation’s history and its cultural diversity.
“Previously, the trail included 51 locations, so we wanted to refresh things in a way that made it a more focused and fun experience,” Delaware Tourism Director Liz Keller said. “We worked with the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs to reassess sites and ultimately determined that these 29 locations were essential to telling Delaware’s story.
The DTO also worked to make it easier for travelers to complete the trail, eliminating paper passports in favor of an online form. “By encouraging visitors to share their photos, we hope to engage younger visitors and more families to explore these historic sites,” Keller said.
Since 2011, Delaware History Trail passports have been downloaded 7,235 times. The most visited site during that time is the Lewes Historical Society.
In Delaware, tourism contributed $3.2 billion to the state’s GDP in 2020, and $497 million in state and local taxes. Tourism is the 4th largest private sector employer in the state, providing jobs for more than 44,000 of our neighbors and fellow Delawareans. In 2020, Delaware hosted more than 7.7 million overnight visitors.
For photos and other material related to the Delaware History Trail, visit this Dropbox link:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s0muwvytdm8jumu/AAD99lWHrHUOc0H9FKHq9mnVa?dl=0
To get started on the trail, travelers can visit VisitDelaware.com/history. Travelers will also be eager to hear more about the Winterthur exhibit unveiled at the press conference,“Jacqueline Kennedy and H. F. du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House,” which highlights the historic collaboration between Winterthur’s former owner and the former First Lady when she was redecorating the White House.
For media questions and other information, contact Eric Ruth at 302-300-7274,eric.ruth@delaware.gov.
