Delaware's Other Memorials

Yesterday, I posted a piece about the War Memorials that are throughout Delaware. As I was doing my research, I discovered that there are other monuments that showcase just what an effect the state of Delaware has had on American History.

Here is a sample of what you can find as you begin to discover Delaware's place in the larger history of the United States.

Delaware's War Memorials

Delaware Memorial Bridge

Happy Memorial Day. In honor of this day, I scoured the length and breadth of Delaware looking for all the war memorials I could find. Here they are in order of the wars they memorialize. I am sure that I missed some, so please comment below and tell me where they are so I can make this list complete.

Port Penn State Park/Town of Port Penn

For such a tiny town in such a tiny state, Port Penn has an enormous amount of history. As I explored the area, I was surprised by how rich this town's past is. Even better, the town is doing everything it can to preserve it.

The Dutch had a settlement here as far back as 1640. They managed to hold onto it even after the English took over the Dutch colonies. In 1682, William Penn stopped here for some water and the settlers were so honored that they named their settlement Port Penn.

By the 1760s, the town had been taken over by David Stewart who decided he was going to build a port city to rival Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the railway bypassed the town as did the subsequent canal. By the 1830s, this town had become a farm community as well as a fishing village.

Over the years, the inhabitants survived by living off the land, hunting, fishing, and trapping. It wasn't until the 1960s that the people who live here started looking outside the town for jobs. Now, it is a community that prides itself on its past and will proudly show you why.

Fort DuPont

"From 1942 through 1945, more than 400,000 Axis prisoners were shipped to the United States and detained in camps in rural areas across the country."

-- Smithsonian Magazine

Who has not built a fort from sofa cushions and blankets? There is something so evocative about being "safe inside" that even the word fort conjures up images of warmth and security. While the reality is not always quite the same, there are fewer things I like better than exploring an old fort. Imagine my delight when I discovered that an old fort with a history sits about half an hour away from my house.