July 25, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 337 

Media Contact: Elaine Brenchley or Nate Davidson, The First State Heritage Park at Dover, 302-739-9194, or Necia Beck, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9191, Necia.Beck@state.de.us

The First State Heritage Park’s First Saturday Events on Aug. 2 Highlight Weddings, Hobbies and Rule-Breaking

DOVER, Del. - On Saturday, Aug. 2, the First State Heritage Park’s “First Saturdays in the First State” highlights wedding customs, hobbies and collections, and the art of breaking rules when trying to get published. 

At 12:30 p.m., visitors to Legislative Hall will learn where the phrase “tying the knot” comes from, how the practice of giving wedding rings originated, and why it might be bad luck to get married during the weekend when the First State Heritage Park presents historical educator Jane Peters Estes in a fascinating program entitled “Wedding Customs and Traditions.” This free program, highlighting the Victorian era, will be accompanied by a display of wedding photographs from the 1860s to the 1960s and other bridal memorabilia that Mrs. Estes has collected over the years. 

Additional First Saturday events include: 

10:30 a.m. - “This Old House” – A free presentation about discovering the history of old houses utilizing the Archives’ extensive records at the Delaware Public Archives. 

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Special free tours focused on hobbies and collecting at Museum Square on Governors Avenue.

Noon - Best-selling author Mary Kennedy examines the rules of the publishing world and imparts strategies to enable writers to be successful while breaking those rules.  The program is held at the Biggs Museum of American Art.  The fee is $15. 

2 p.m. - “Biggs Kids” -  Author Mary Kennedy hosts this month’s program and gives youngsters an opportunity to ask questions about writing and how to get their ideas down on the page at the Biggs Museum of American Art.

2 p.m.: Victorian Dover Walking Tour - This special walking tour of Dover’s Victorian District revisits the city’s rich Victorian history, focusing on the men and women who would forever alter the course of Dover during an age of prosperity, expansion and transformation. The free tour departs from Rose Cottage, 102 S. State Street.

First State Heritage Park sites open from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on this First Saturday include Legislative Hall, State House Museum, Delaware Public Archives, the Delaware Visitor Center and Galleries, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the Delaware Archaeology Museum, the Museum of Small Town Life, and the Johnson Victrola Museum.  Admission to all sites is free of charge.

More information is available by calling 302-739-9194. The First State Heritage Park can be found online at www.destateparks.com/heritagepark.