Delaware History Museum

The Delaware Historical Society’s campus encompasses seven historic structures across two blocks on Market Street in downtown Wilmington.  In 2010, the Delaware Historical Society commissioned DIGSAU to develop a Master Plan and begin a new phase of long-term planning which comprehensively assessed the  campus and all facilities and developed strategies to enhance their use. The recommended plan rethinks the Historical Society’s exhibit and educational program by integrating the program throughout the campus’ historic buildings, expands administrative office space and collection storage, and proposes redeveloping  the campus landscape for enhanced public use.

Phase one, completed in 2015, includes renovations to the Delaware History Museum and historic Old Town Hall. The project included the construction of a connector between Old Town Hall and the Delaware History Museum to allow full access to the public as a multi-purpose space for rotating exhibitions and new education programs.  The project also included the creation of the Center for African American Heritage;  a new visible storage gallery, additional exhibition space; and re-purposed new classrooms to more fully support the Historical Society’s educational mission.