Rate First State National Historical Park
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.
Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Historical Park
Operating Hours & Seasons
Standard operating hours are included below, however, those hours change seasonally at each of the seven sites. Please visit the “Operating Hours & Seasons” page for links to partner websites.
Beaver Valley (Woodlawn Tract)
Beaver Valley (Woodlawn Tract) consists of 1,100 acres of rolling hills and wooded areas are located along the Brandywine River and the arced border between northern Delaware and southern Pennsylvania.
Standard Hours
- Sunday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Monday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Tuesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Wednesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Thursday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Friday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Saturday: Sunrise – Sunset
Fort Christina
Fort Christina is closed, except for special events. It is open during the summer, from Memorial Day (May 27th) to Labor Day (September 5th), Tuesday through Friday from 11am -4pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. It was here, along the banks of the Christina River over 375 years ago, that the first Swedish and Finnish American settlers aboard the Kalmar Nyckel and the Fogel Grip landed and settled the first American Swedish colony, New Sweden.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:12:00 PM-4:00 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Wednesday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Thursday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Friday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Saturday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Additional Information View More
- Memorial Day – Labor Day
- Tuesday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Thursday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Friday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Saturday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Old Swedes Church
Generally open Wednesday-Saturday. Hours change seasonally.
Standard Hours
- Sunday: Closed
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Thursday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Friday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Saturday:10:00 AM-4:00 PM
New Castle Court House Museum
Historic New Castle served as the colonial capital of Delaware until 1777 and provides valuable stories of our country’s earliest settlers and founding fathers. The museum is closed on state holidays.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:1:30 PM-4:30 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Thursday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Friday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Saturday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
The Green, Dover
William Penn established the town of Dover in 1683. As surveyed in 1717, the town featured three public squares including The Green.
Standard Hours
- Sunday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Monday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Tuesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Wednesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Thursday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Friday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Saturday: Sunrise – Sunset
John Dickinson Plantation
Home to John Dickinson, known as the “penman of the Revolution” because his writings helped inspire colonial opposition to Great Britain, this site was built in 1739 and located about 6 miles southeast of The Green in Dover.
Standard Hours
- Sunday: Closed
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Wednesday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Thursday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Friday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Saturday:10:00 AM-4:30 PM
Ryves Holt House
This house, built in 1665 in Lewes, Delaware by early Dutch settlers, is thought to be built thirty years after the destruction of the nearby ill-fated Zwaanendael colony, one of the first Dutch settlements in America, and first European settlement in Delaware. The Lewes Historical Society’s hours are subject to change, so please refer to their website for updated hours.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:12:00 PM-4:00 PM
- Monday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Thursday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Friday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Saturday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Additional Information View More
- Open Winter Hours:
- January 1 – March 30
- Sunday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Monday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Saturday:11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $0.00 – First State Fees
There are no fees to visit First State National Historical Park. Some partner sites may charge a small fee for special programs.
Entrance Passes:
- $0.00 – First State Passes
First State National Historical Park does not sell or accept park passes, because we are a fee-free park.
About
There are no fees to visit First State National Historical Park. Some partner sites may charge a small fee for special programs.
First State National Historical Park does not sell or accept park passes, because we are a fee-free park.
From First Settlement to First State
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a distinct character that tolerated diversity in religion and national origin and valued independence.
Directions
Seven sites make up First State National Historical Park in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania. For details and directions for each site, please visit the visitor centers page below.
Visitor Centers
There are seven sites throughout the state that collectively tell First State National Historical Park’s story, and can be visited in any order. Currently, the park does not have one, central visitor center. However, each site has some type of welcome center where you will receive informaiton about the site and available tours.
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