DOVER – Delaware is gearing up for a year-long party more than two centuries in the making as leaders prepare for the state and the country’s 250th anniversary.
Formally called the semiquincentennial, Delaware 250 Anniversary Coordinator Margaret Hughes said celebrations of all sizes are already planned throughout the state.
The entity began through a collaboration with the Delaware Heritage Commission and the Delaware Public Archives in hopes of making the upcoming celebration year a success.
“What’s unique about it is that it’s also the 250th anniversary of our statehood, so it’s a double anniversary for Delaware,” she told the Delaware Business Times. “In total, we’ve given out over $225,000 through grants from Delaware 250. That funding has gone toward museums, community groups, municipalities and nonprofit organizations that serve the public broadly to help them plan for or create programming for this great anniversary.”
The funding, she added, came primarily from Delaware-based sources, mostly from state funding. But the group is reaching out for private sponsors, as well. She noted that only $10,000 came from the federal government with no expectation of more funding being added from that pool and her small team of two and a half people are continually monitoring the national situation for more developments.
Programs funded so far in Delaware, ranging in grant funding from $5,000 to $25,000, have included a variety of historical reminders of the experiences of Delawareans over the years.
“All of the grants we’ve given out really speaks to the vastness of the state,” Hughes told DBT.
She highlighted several initiatives, including the Newark Historical Society which is looking to run a series of programs documenting aspects of Newark’s underrepresented history and the University of Delaware’s special collections which is seeking to represent the African American community through programming. Similarly, the city of Lewes will be documenting segregation on the beaches.
The Historic Odessa Foundation also received a grant to conduct archeological field work in hopes of unearthing an age-old industry staple in Delaware – the Corbit Tannery which would be over 250 years old by now.
“There has not been one particular project that we’re excited about, because they’re all great and needed. All of those things really speak to the dynamism of the state’s history. All of these stories have a place in Delaware,” Hughes told DBT.
While the deadline for the most recent round of grant opportunities through Delaware 250 just passed, she said the next round will be announced soon.
“I’m really trying to encourage people and entities across the state to think about how they can weave the 250th into things they are doing and how they can kind of reflect on this big anniversary from their perspective,” Hughes told DBT. “It would be great to see that kind of robust response across the state. I would love local businesses to think about how they can commemorate the anniversary based on products they make and their contributions to the community. I don’t think anybody should have a lock on the 250th.”
The area also gets to benefit from a few other unique situations colliding on the East Coast next year – the FIFA World Cup 2026 will bring soccer enthusiasts to Philadelphia, along with the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be held at Citizens Bank Park.
“Philadelphia certainly has a lot of claim to this anniversary, as well, and our neighbors, especially up in New Castle County, are really starting to prepare for the influx of visitors. The Greater Wilmington Visitors Bureau, for example, is really mindful of the upcoming events happening in Philadelphia,” she added.
Those events, plus the 250th anniversary of Delaware and the United States, could team up to create a whirlwind year for hospitality professionals in the area. Hughes also said that Delaware 250 has been working with nearby states to create cross programming opportunities as travelers work their ways across the region.
