Delaware’s largest city, Wilmington, is located along the northern edge of the state and is only about a 20-minute drive from Philadelphia. Delaware proudly calls itself “The First State” because it was the first of the original 13 states to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Around Wilmington you’ll also see landmarks named after Caesar Rodney, one of Delaware’s most famous early political figures and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The statue above stands in Rodney Square in the center of the city.
Wilmington isn’t the capital of Delaware, but as the state’s largest city it sometimes has the feel of one. Several impressive buildings surround Rodney Square, including the one above. I originally thought it might be a museum or government building, but as it turns out, it belongs to a law firm!
Wilmington isn’t usually considered a major travel destination. I live only about two hours away, yet I didn’t know much about the city myself until I actually visited. What surprised me most was the amount of colonial history still scattered throughout the city. There has clearly been an effort to preserve and promote some of that history and culture.
At first glance, the historic part of the city isn’t especially dramatic. You’ll see individual historic buildings like the one above mixed in with newer businesses and storefronts. It’s more of a neighborhood to explore on foot and discover as you go rather than one concentrated historic attraction.
There are also several historic buildings that have been well maintained. Above is Wilmington’s Old Town Hall, while below is a tiny colonial square I came across while exploring. I couldn’t find its name at the time, but surprisingly this little square ended up being one of my favorite places in Wilmington.
The historic district also has art galleries and museums. The painting above was for sale in one of the art stores I visited. I had planned to visit some museums as well, but unfortunately they were closed on the day I was in Wilmington. There was still plenty of art to see outside, including murals like the one below.
Old Swedes Church & New Sweden
As far as history goes, one of the most interesting places I visited in Wilmington was Old Swedes Church. Swedish settlers arrived in the area in 1638 and established the colony of New Sweden. The church was completed in 1699 and remarkably remains in use today, making it one of the oldest surviving churches in the United States.
The house above is the Hendrickson House, another surviving piece of the area’s colonial history and a rare example of Swedish colonial architecture in America. Surrounding Old Swedes Church is an enormous historic burial ground containing thousands of graves, some dating back centuries. By American standards, this entire area feels ancient.
Ebright Azimuth
Lastly, as part of my quest to reach the highest point of every state, I made my way to Ebright Azimuth near Wilmington. At only about 447 feet (136 meters), Delaware’s high point is the second lowest state high point in the country after Florida. The photo above shows the crux of the route. If you can successfully make it through the neighborhood and cross the street, you’ve pretty much earned your way to the top of Delaware!
