Museums & Heritage

Coastal Delaware’s history is defined by its maritime heritage and early European settlements. This collection spans from the 1631 Dutch colony at the Zwaanendael Museum to the World War II coastal defenses of Fort Miles. Highlights include the United States lightship Overfalls, historic lighthouses guarding the Delaware Bay, and museums dedicated to the Nanticoke Indian tribe and the region’s life-saving service. Specialized exhibits also explore local telecommunications and the Victorian-era origins of the coastal resorts.

United States lightship Overfalls

Lightship Overfalls was the last lightvessel constructed for the United States Lighthouse Service before the Service became part of the…

Delaware Breakwater East End Light

The Delaware Breakwater East End Light is a lighthouse located on the inner Delaware Breakwater in the Delaware Bay, just off the coast of…

Zwaanendael Museum

In Lewes, Delaware the Zwaanendael Museum was created to honor the 300th anniversary of Delaware's first European settlement, Zwaanendael,…

Harbor of Refuge Light

The Harbor of Refuge Light is a lighthouse built on the ocean end of the outer Delaware Breakwater at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, just…

Indian River Lifesaving Museum

Housed in a restored 1876 station, this museum documents the history of the United States Life-Saving Service. Exhibits include original rescue equipment and surfboats used to assist shipwrecked mariners.

Nanticoke Indian Museum

This National Historic Landmark is located in a former one-room schoolhouse. It preserves Nanticoke Indian heritage through a collection of stone artifacts, pottery, textiles, and traditional crafts.

Rehoboth Beach Museum

Located in the city’s former ice house, the museum chronicles the town’s development from a 19th-century Methodist camp meeting site into a modern seaside destination through vintage photographs and artifacts.

Fort Miles Interpretive Site

A key World War II coastal defense site located in Cape Henlopen State Park. It features restored gun batteries, fire control towers, and exhibits on the fort's role in protecting the Delaware Bay.

Telephone Museum

Part of the Marvel Museum, this collection features antique telephones, switchboards, and telecommunications equipment illustrating the evolution of communication technology in the region.

Georgetown Historical Society

Operating as the Marvel Museum, this complex includes several historic structures, such as a 19th-century church and schoolhouse, alongside a collection of horse-drawn carriages and local Sussex County artifacts.