Discover New Castle: Historic District and Delaware River

New Castle combines American history with tangible experiences for a varied travel itinerary. In the Historic District, more than 600 historic buildings spanning four centuries of architectural history are among its defining impressions. The district is one of the best-preserved settlements in the United States. If you would like to combine culture, walks, and time outdoors, New Castle offers a range of opportunities to do so.

Historic Buildings in the Historic District

With the New Castle AudioWalk, you can explore the Historic District on a self-guided tour. This is one way to discover the historic surroundings at your own pace and choose the focus of your sightseeing for yourself. Separation Day continues to be celebrated in New Castle every June with parades, fireworks, and other activities. If you are traveling during this month, this event is part of the town’s distinctive tradition of celebrations.

One of the notable historic destinations is the New Castle Court House Museum. The building was constructed in 1732 and previously served as Delaware’s first courthouse and first state capitol. The New Castle Court House is also one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the United States and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. For travelers interested in cultural history, it is therefore an important point of reference within the town’s history.

Several historic homes also give New Castle its distinctive character. George Washington visited the Amstel House in April 1784 for the wedding of Ann, the daughter of Van Dyke, and Kensey Johns. Today, the Amstel House contains numerous personal possessions belonging to the Van Dyke and Johns families. The Dutch House dates from the late 17th century and is considered one of the oldest houses in Delaware. Its construction reflects Dutch and English building traditions; the interior structural system and sections of the horizontal wood siding on the gable have also been preserved. The Dutch House offers tours on Saturdays and Sundays from April through December.

Gardens and Time Along the Delaware River

The Amstel House includes a garden that preserves boxwood parterres, tall garden walls, a garden house, brick paths, and individually designed gates from its Colonial Revival design. The Read House overlooks the Delaware River and is preserved as a National Historic Landmark. The Read House gardens are open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset and admission is free. This makes it possible to complement a focus on cultural history with time outdoors.

Battery Park on the Delaware River features a walking path, picnic tables, a playground, and tennis and basketball courts. Those traveling with children or looking to set aside time for exercise between museum visits and historic homes will find various options here for an active break. Choosing a vacation rental or vacation home in New Castle can therefore be guided by your personal travel priorities: culture, gardens, walks, or time together in the park can each be given different emphasis.

Getting There and Practical Travel Planning

Historic New Castle is served by DART bus route 15. The stop for the historic area is located at the intersection of Sixth Street and Delaware Street. This specific reference point may be relevant when planning your accommodation and daily routes, especially if you would like to include the bus connection in your travel plans. The Old Library Museum is permanently closed and should therefore not be planned as a current destination.

When choosing your accommodation, it is worth first deciding which experiences you want. The AudioWalk and historic buildings favor a culture-oriented stay, while the Read House gardens and Battery Park provide additional opportunities to spend time outdoors. This allows you to choose the right vacation rental in New Castle based on the pace that suits your travel group.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

For further planning, you can also visit Delaware City, Wilmington, Brookside, Hockessin, Claymont, Christiana, Bear and Brandywine.

For the higher-level travel overview: New Castle County.