Henry Hudson discovered Delaware in 1609, sailing under the Dutch flag. The state was named after Governor Thomas West, Baron De La Warr. Following several attempts at settlement by the Dutch, the Swiss and the English, Delaware became semi-autonomous after 1704 and fought as a separate state in the American Revolution. During the Civil War, although a slave state, Delaware did not secede form the Union. The du Pont family established a gunpowder mill near Wilmington that laid the foundation for the state’s huge chemical industry. Today, Delaware’s manufactured products also include vulcanized fiber, textiles, paper, medical supplies, metal products, machinery and automobiles. Delaware is a pioneer in the food-canning industry and grows a great variety of fruits and vegetables, including soybeans, potatoes and hay.

Dover is the state Capitol and is located on the Saint Jones River in central Delaware. It is a marketing center for the surrounding farming region and contains numerous restored houses in the Georgian colonial architectural style. Historic landmarks in Dover include the home of John Dickinson, a statesman and writer of the American Revolution and the State Museum, housed in a Presbyterian church built in 1790.

Other points of interest in scenic Delaware include the popular recreation areas of Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore, Trapp Pond State Park and Rehoboth Beach. Elsewhere in the state, cultural and recreation abound. World-class artists perform at Wilmington’s immaculately restored Grand Opera House. The magnificent Louis XVI-style chateau and gardens built for Alfred I. du Pont in 1909 is another popular attraction. Fort Christina Monument, Hagley Museum, Winterthur Museum and the Delaware Museum of Natural History are also exciting destinations. Ideally located, Delaware is a great place for an overnight stop, a getaway weekend or even better - a great place to live.