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National Historical Park

First State National Historical Park

  • Mid-Atlantic

Plan a First State trip

About First State

Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a distinct character that tolerated diversity in religion and national origin and valued independence.

From the National Park Service.

Region
Mid-Atlantic
States
Delaware and Pennsylvania
Designation
National Historical Park
Entrance fee
None listed
  • Trail data for this park is still being added.
  • Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to First State.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

New Castle Court House Museum

Mon
Closed
Tue
Closed
Wed
10:00AM - 3:30PM
Thu
10:00AM - 3:30PM
Fri
10:00AM - 3:30PM
Sat
10:00AM - 3:30PM
Sun
1:30PM - 4:00PM

The New Castle Court House Museum is open Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are available at 10:00 a.m., 11:00a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. During tours, visitors are welcome to check out the waiting area to pick up information, ask questions, or get their passport stamped. The New Castle Court House Museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Weather and when to go

For details and information, visit, http://www.nps.gov/frst/index.htm.

Getting there

First State National Historical Park is made up of six individual sites throughout Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania that explore early settlement through the ratification of the US Constitution. Please visit the individual pages for directions or hours of operation.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
First State National Historical Park, 10 Market Street, New Castle, DE 19720
Official site
nps.gov/frst

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for First State

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

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What to pack for First State

Gear & Essentials

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The basics

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For this trip

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More parks in the Mid-Atlantic

More park sites in Delaware

All 4 in Delaware All National Historical Parks