Museums History
Delaware

Browse Museums

Auburn Heights Preserve
Yorklyn, Delaware

History, Historic House, Park

Auburn Heights Preserve encompasses an 1897 Victorian country estate surrounded by 200+ acres of preserved open space. The property was donated to the State of Delaware in 2008 by Thomas C. and Ruth Marshall, the third generation of the Marshall family to live on the property.

Auburn Heights is home to the Marshall Collection of steam-powered automobiles, generally regarded as the world's pre-eminent steam car collection (15 Stanley Steamers plus 2 Packards and a Rauch & Lang electric car).

This is an OPERATING museum: all cars in the collection are drivable, and the museum offers rides on one of the steam cars and the electric car on its public event days.

Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover, Delaware

Art, History

Special features of the permanent collection include the only comprehensive representational American paintings collection on the Delmarva Peninsula with highlights by the Peale family, Albert Bierstadt, Gilbert Stuart, and Childe Hassam. Experience a variety of art forms such as sculptures by Hiram Powers and images by Brandywine School illustrator, Frank E. Schoonover. View Examples of furniture by early-American cabinetmakers such as, the Javier family of Odessa, and William Savery of Philadelphia. The Museum also houses one of the finest collections of regional silver in the country.

Bridgeville Historical Society
Bridgeville, Delaware

History, Historical Society

The Bridgeville Historical Society maintains a museum in the old 1911 fire house at 102 William St as well as a small tenant farmhouse behind it. Historical artifacts of Bridgeville and the Northwest Fork Hundred are displayed there.

Fort Delaware Society
Delaware City, Delaware

History

Hagley Museum & Library
Wilmington, Delaware

History, Library

Kalmar Nyckel Found.& Shipyard
Wilmington, Delaware

History, Science

maritime, culture, history, science

Lydia B. Cannon Museum
Milton, Delaware

History

Milton Hist. Soc.
Milton, Delaware

History

New Sweden Centre
Wilmington, Delaware

Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

I envision our museum as the 1st stop for anyone interested in the heritage of the Swedish Colony founded in 1638 in the Delaware Valley before William Penn.

Parson Thorne Mansion
Milford, Delaware

History

Bethel Heritage Museum
Bethel, Delaware

History

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Smyrna, Delaware

Anthropology, History, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region. The refuge, located along the coast of Delaware, is mostly marsh, but also includes freshwater impoundments and upland habitats that are managed for other wildlife.

Delaware History Center and Museums
Wilmington, Delaware

History, Historic House

Governor Ross Mansion and Plantation
Seaford, Delaware

Archaeology, Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Park

Purchased by the Seaford Historical Society in 1976, this rare and complete Victorian Italianate mansion, ca. 1850s, has been lovingly restored and fully furnished. Step into the Governor Ross Mansion, and step back into time. See the only documented log slave quarter in Delaware.

Hendrickson House
Wilmington, Delaware

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society

The restoration of the Hendrickson House took place in 1958, after it was moved to Wilmington to prevent its being torn down. The pine mantel and woodwork around the large fireplace are original, but the floorboards were taken from a Massachusetts farmhouse of the same period. The pine ceiling beams were made by hand as part of the restoration. Existing doors and windows were used as patterns for new ones, and the curved staircase was reconstructed in accordance with marks on the walls. The straight staircase is new; it was added for safety reasons. The house is now used as the church offices and a small museum.

Kent County Tourism
Dover, Delaware

Archaeology, Cemetery, Culture, History, Historic House, Military, Specialized

The economic climate may not be the greatest, and we know our visitors are looking for their best values. Get out of the house this spring and visit Delaware’s Capital Region – Greater Dover and Kent County.

Did you know we're less than a tankful away from major East Coast cities? Visitors to Dover, Delaware's Capital City, and Kent County, Delaware are pleasantly surprised by our variety of historical and cultural attractions, beautiful farmland and coastal scenery, and our curious mix of old traditions and modern high-tech culture. In Kent County, visitors can find Amish buggies on city streets, delicate shorebirds and giant C-5 Galaxy military cargo planes, quiet museums and exciting NASCAR races, arts and antiques, Colonial history, slots and harness racing.

Lydia Cannon Museum
Milton, Delaware

History

Museum of Small Town Life
Dover, Delaware

History

OperaDelaware
Wilmington, Delaware

History

Port Penn Hist. Soc.
Port Penn, Delaware

History

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025

Westgate Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by: Public Lands Alliance

The Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show brings together nonprofits, land management agencies and companies to learn, network and engage on public lands issues. The 2025 Convention and Trade Show will take place Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV

Connect with peers, explore the latest in public lands products, and return inspired with new strategies and resources for success in conservation and visitor engagement

Our annual Convention and Trade Show (PLA) is the premier gathering for leaders in the public lands sector to network, gain essential tools, and explore products that enhance the visitor experience and support conservation, preservation, and enrichment efforts.

For more information, please call 301-946-9475.

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

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