May 15, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 223 

Media Contact: Elaine Brenchley or Nate Davidson, The First State Heritage Park at Dover, 302-739-9194, or Necia Beck, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9175 Necia.Beck@state.de.us 

First State Heritage Park Presents the Presbyterian Churchyard Cemetery Tour

DOVER, Del. - On Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m., The First State Heritage Park invites the public to tour the Presbyterian Church of Dover’s historic cemetery by lantern light to investigate the meanings of funerary art and pay tribute to some of Delaware’s greatest leaders. The program fee is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Many prominent Delawareans and their families are buried in the cemetery. Among them are the great Delaware statesman John M. Clayton and revolutionary martyr Col. John Haslet, who died a hero’s death at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. Obelisks and carved funerary symbols in the churchyard reveal how families chose to tell their stories of loss with words and symbols that were carved nearly 200 years ago.

This tour was made possible through the support of the Presbyterian Church of Dover, Ronald Sherman, chair of the church’s cemetery committee. Extensive research about the cemetery by David Holland provided information for the tour.

The tour begins at Museum Square, located at the corner of West North Street and Governors Avenue at 8 p.m. Tour space is limited, so call 302-739-9194 for reservations. Visit The First State Heritage Park online at www.destateparks.com/heritagepark. 

Established by Governor Ruth Ann Minner in 2004, The First State Heritage Park at Dover is a partnership of state agencies, under the leadership of Delaware State Parks, working in collaboration with city and county government, nonprofit organizations and the private sector to create Delaware’s first urban “park without boundaries” linking historic and cultural sites in the city that has been the seat of state government since 1777.