DOVER, DE — Delaware recently marked a milestone in its efforts to preserve and present its history with the groundbreaking ceremony for the John Dickinson Plantation Visitor Center. Hosted by the Department of State’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA), the event celebrated the commencement of a $14.5 million project that will expand historical exploration at the plantation and deepen understanding of its multifaceted past. The visitor center, set to open in 2026, promises to transform how Delawareans and visitors experience this vital historical site.
The John Dickinson Plantation holds a unique position in American history as the home of John Dickinson, esteemed as one of the nation’s Founding Fathers and a former Delaware Governor. Yet, it also symbolizes the complexities of early American society, representing the lives and stories of enslaved individuals, indentured servants, tenant farmers, and free Black families who lived, labored, and endured hardship there.
“When we take the Oath of Office, we promise ‘to respect the right of future generations to share the rich historic and natural heritage of Delaware,’” said Governor John Carney. “The visitor center at the John Dickinson Plantation will help us tell the complex story of one of our nation’s most influential founding fathers. Importantly, it will also share the stories of the enslaved, free, and freedom-seeking individuals and families on the plantation. This is history we must confront, understand, and pass on to future generations.”
A Vision for Inclusion and Education
The visitor center is designed with inclusivity and education in mind. It will enhance the ability of the site to communicate its history through state-of-the-art facilities. Central to its offerings will be the expanded exhibition space featuring “One Land, Many Voices,” a permanent exhibit exploring the diverse narratives of the plantation. The space will feature artifacts, interactive displays, and stories, telling a fuller account of life on the plantation.
“This is so much more than a visitor center. It’s a gateway into the history of our state in all its complexity,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Today, we’re making good on our promise to bring a facility like this to fruition.”
The center will house a multi-purpose room accommodating school groups, community gatherings, and educational programming for up to 120 attendees. A 590-square-foot activity area will allow hands-on engagement with history, making it a hub for teaching and learning. These new facilities underline the state’s commitment to using history as a tool for connection and dialogue.
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long commended the project for its potential to bridge past and present while promoting equity. “The John Dickinson Plantation visitor center will serve as an important hub and resource center not just for Delawareans but for visitors to our state,” she remarked. “We are able to draw connections from throughout history to the present and explore ways to continue advancing equity and justice.”
A Five-Year Journey to Construction
The project has been over five years in the making, with Delmarva Veteran Builders and architectural firms Davis Bowen & Friedel, Inc., and Core States Group tasked with bringing the vision to life. Reflecting on the landmark occasion, Suzanne Savery, Director of HCA, emphasized the importance of the center’s mission.
“We are breaking ground on a building that will provide visitors and residents with new opportunities to reflect on Delaware’s complex, challenging, and inspiring history,” she said. “This project represents an exciting opportunity to expand everything we do at HCA, from educational programs to community engagement.”
The significance of this initiative extends far beyond its physical structure. The visitor center will enable a wider audience to understand Dickinson’s complex legacy — his fight for liberty as a patriot contrasted against his lifelong reliance on enslaved labor. Notably, Dickinson unconditionally manumitted 59 enslaved individuals in 1786, a critical but still incomplete step toward justice.
Confronting History, Preserving Truth
Elected officials echoed the importance of facing uncomfortable truths about the past, highlighting the project as an opportunity for reflection and growth. State Senator Eric Buckson pointed to the need for honest engagement with historical realities. “We have to run to the truth, and we have to embrace it, and then learn how to better accept it, deal with it, speak to it,” he said. “Erasing it doesn’t make it go away.”
House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris reinforced this sentiment, noting that the center’s work will cast light on injustices whose effects endure today. “Freedom and liberty are not something that is lost on us,” she stated. “The civil rights that many of us take for granted are often hedged by those who are of enslaved ancestry.”
Expanding Delaware’s Historical Profile
Managed as a partner site of the First State National Historical Park, the John Dickinson Plantation joins other heritage sites accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and affiliated with prominent initiatives like the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom. The new visitor center will complement the site’s existing narratives, preserving voices that have often been silenced in traditional historical accounts.
Looking to the future, Governor Carney highlighted the critical role the visitor center will play in shaping public understanding. “I am most excited that generations of Delawareans and visitors will explore the complex fabric of our state’s history by experiencing this new visitor’s center,” he said.
The John Dickinson Plantation Visitor Center represents not only an architectural initiative but also a moral commitment to presenting an inclusive and truthful account of the past. With its focus on education, community engagement, and historical preservation, it is set to become an enduring symbol of Delaware’s resolve to honor and learn from its history in all its dimensions.
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