April 14, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 106

For more information contact Elaine Brenchley, The First State Heritage Park at Dover, 302-739-9194 (elaine.brenchley@state.de.us), or Necia Beck, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9175, Necia.Beck@state.de.us

Free events at Woodburn, The Old State House and Legislative Hall
highlight the First State Heritage Park May First Saturday
during Dover Days weekend

In conjunction with Dover Days, the First State Heritage Park and its partner sites will again offer a variety of special programs and activities on Saturday, May 1, as part of First Saturdays in the First State.

Highlighted by Steam Cars at Woodburn and Segways at the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center, the day is full of special activities at all park sites. The park’s walking tour, “Tales of Slavery and Freedom,” will be offered on The Green, complementing the “Pathways to Freedom” living history programs at The Old State House. Tours and programs can also be enjoyed at Legislative Hall, Johnson Victrola Museum, Delaware Public Archives and Biggs Museum.

 All activities are free.

Schedule of First State Heritage Park Activities on May 1:

FIRST STATE HERITAGE PARK WELCOME CENTER AND GALLERIES
121 Duke of York Street (on the first floor of the Public Archives building)
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
USS Delaware: An American Battleship
Gallery exhibit presented by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs: The story of the USS Delaware (1909 – 1924), told through objects, photographs and ceremonial silver.

Try out a Segway at the Welcome Center!
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Visitors will learn to ride a Segway and hear about the new Segway tours at First State Heritage Park.

WOODBURN – THE GOVERNOR’S HOUSE
At Woodburn – 151 Kings Highway
Tours of the Governor’s House
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Visitors will enjoy guided tours of Woodburn, the official residence of Delaware’s Governor since 1965, and Hall House, the Governor’s guest house.  The Woodburn Arboretum will also be open to visitors.

Colonial music and dancing, children’s colonial games, refreshments 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Fun for the whole family.
Auburn Heights Steam Car Rides
11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Rides in a classic 1915 steam-powered car!

LEGISLATIVE HALL – DELAWARE’S STATE CAPITOL
Guided Tours of Legislative Hall
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tours of the House and Senate Chambers will teach visitors about the legislature and Delaware history. Photo ID is required for all adults.

Children’s Scavenger Hunt at Legislative Hall
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Children may participate in a scavenger hunt in the state capitol building to uncover the secrets of Delaware history!

JOHNSON VICTROLA MUSEUM
Johnson’s Radio Age
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New Street
Museum visitors will hear about the Victor Talking Machine Company's important contribution to the early days of radio, have a chance to listen to early radio performers and hear how a local man became a major player in a new technology.

THE OLD STATE HOUSE
Pathways to Freedom
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Old State House, 25 The Green
The history of the Underground Railroad through short plays and historical interpretation are explored.

DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES
A Tour of the Delaware Public Archives
1:30 p.m.
Delaware Public Archives, 121 Duke of York Street
This “behind the scenes” tour of the Delaware Public Archives offers the public the opportunity to learn more about the role of the Archives and see how the Archives preserves and protects the records that are important to every Delawarean. 

TALES OF SLAVERY AND FREEDOM WALKING TOUR
2 p.m.
Meet at the Old State House on The Green
The Dover Green was a place where free and enslaved men and women lived out their lives, where national decisions regarding slavery were debated, and where a brave group of runaways known as the Dover Eight made a daring escape from the Dover Jail. Learn about Dover’s complicated positions regarding freedom and slavery, and its role as a border state during the Civil War.

BIGGS MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
Biggs Kids – Handprint Flowers
2 p.m.
Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal Street
April showers have helped to bring beautiful May flowers.  Children will use their handprint to create special flowers. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (302) 674-2111.

For more information about The First State Heritage Park programs, call 302-739-9194 or visit www.destateparks.com/heritagepark

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.