Delaware - State Symbols, Facts, Photos, Visitor Info

"Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty."

June 21, 1776

Entered the Union
December 7, 1787 (1)

Capital: Dover

State Symbols

Tree: American Holly
Flower : Peach Blossom
Bird : Blue Hen Chicken
Song: “Our Delaware”

Delaware
Origin of Name: In honor of Thomas West, Third Baron De La Warr, Virginia's first colonial governor.
State Nicknames: Diamond State • First State • Small Wonder
State Motto: Liberty and Independence	State Beverage: Milk
State Colors: Colonial blue and buff	State Fish: Weakfish
State Forests: 3 • State Parks: 14	State Mineral: Sillimanite
Famous For: First State to ratify the Constitution of the United States • Oldest Protestant Church in the U.S. -- Holy Trinity Church (built in 1698)
Famous Delawareans: Annie Jump Cannon (astronomer), E. I. Du Pont (industrialist), Thomas Garrett (abolitionist), Henry Heimlich (surgeon, inventor), William Julius "Judy" Johnson (baseball), Wilham Julius Johnson (basketball), George Read & Ceasar Rodney (signers of Declaration of Independence), George Alfred Townsend (journalist, author)
Native Animals and Birds: Click on photos of the animals and birds on this page to find out more about them and to hear the sounds they make.

State Fair: Harrington, Delaware

Delaware State Forests

Delaware State Parks

Delaware Historic Sites

Fishing in Delaware

Hunting in Delaware

Delaware Photo Gallery

Delaware Butterfly Gallery

Delaware Resorts

Delaware RV Parks

The Lenape Indians lived along the Delaware River (English settlers later called them the “Delaware”). The Nanticoke lived along the Nanticoke River in the southwestern part of the state.

Henry Hudson, is credited with Delaware's discovery in 1609. An attempted Dutch settlement failed in 1631 when the Indians killed the settlers. Swedish colonization began at Fort Christina (now Wilmington) in 1638, but New Sweden fell to Dutch forces in 1655. England took over the area in 1664, and it was transferred to William Penn in 1682. Semiautonomous after 1704, Delaware fought as a separate state in the American Revolution.

Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution (on December 7, 1787). Because of this action, Delaware became the first state in the Union, and is, therefore, accorded the first position in such national events as presidential inaugurations.

Among Delaware's many historic churches is Old Swedes Church in Wilmington which has been in use since its completion in 1698.

The longest twin span suspension bridge in the world is the Delaware Memorial Bridge that connects Delaware with New Jersey.

Delaware is the only state in the US without any national parks.

Of the 50 US states, Delaware is the 49th in size and 45th in population.

At its widest point, Delaware is 35 miles across.

Eldridge Reeves Johnson was born in 1867 in Wilmington and grew up in Dover. He was the inventor of the phonograph and founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company, now known as RCA.

The log cabin originated in Finland. Finnish settlers arrived in Delaware in the mid-1600s and brought with them plans for the log cabin, one of the enduring symbols of the American pioneer. One of the cabins has been preserved and is on display at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover.

Thomas Garret lost his entire fortune in his battle against slavery. He was sued by a Maryland slave owner and fined for aiding a black family in flight. Over his lifetime, Garrett reportedly helped more than 2,000 fugitive slaves move through Delaware, an important stop on the Underground Railroad.

Delaware's Ethnic Roots: African 19.2%, Irish 16.6%, German 14.3%, English 12.1%, Italian 9.3%.

Delaware has the highest proportion of African-American residents of any state north of Maryland, and had the largest population of free blacks (17%) prior to the Civil War.

Religion in Delaware: 79% Christian (68% Protestant, 10% Catholic, 1% Other), 19% No Religion, 2% Other Religions

Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, a French immigrant, built the state's first gunpowder mill on Brandywine Creek near Wilmington in 1802. The Du Pont Company would eventually become the largest chemical company in the United States.

The Du Pont Laboratories first produced nylon at its plant in Seaford. This earned the town the distinction of being the Nylon Capital of the World.

Hagley Museum was originally the du Pont black powder manufactory, estate, and gardens.

The frying pan built in 1950 for use at the Delmarva Chicken Festival is 10 feet in diameter and holds 180 gallons of oil and 800 chicken quarters.

Horseshoe crabs may be viewed in large numbers up and down the Delaware shore in May. The crabs endure extremes of temperature and salinity. They can also go for a year without eating and have remained basically the same since the days of the dinosaur.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving - Thanking God for His blessings

Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2024
In 1621, 52 Pilgrims and approx. 50 Native Americans celebrated a 3-day feast thanking God for His blessings enabling their survival in the New World. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.

Advent

December 1, 2024
Advent begins 4 weeks before Christmas and remembers the longing and waiting of God's people for the coming of the Messiah.

Bill of Rights Day

December 15, 1791
Bill of Rights Day
Celebrating the 10 amendments to the Constitution which protect individual rights by placing specific limits on government power. These freedoms do not exist in many countries of the world.

Christmas Day

December 25th Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. This joyous festival is enjoyed by Christians and nonChristians alike all over the world.