Located across from Central Park at 318 Garfield Parkway, this beautifully restored cottage offers visitors an immersive experience of an historically significant early 1900’s home and a glimpse of what life was like during the early days of the town. It is one of the few remaining original cottages in Bethany Beach and the oldest public building in town. It served as a U.S. Post Office from 1922-25.
The sign in the front
The historic sign
The backyard of the home
I arranged a personal tour with members of the Board of the Dinker-Irvin House Museum and I got to see one of the few remaining shore homes from the turn of the last century.
The Virtual tour of the Museum
Sneak Peek view of the museum
The History of Bethany Beach
The Dinker-Irvin House is an example of early beach living on the Delaware coast. This small home was just enough space for a family to live comfortably at the shore for the summer season before and after it was a religious retreat.
The antiques of the time period in the front entrance
This interesting little shore home shows life in early Bethany Beach similar to the development of shore communities up and down the Eastern seaboard first as religious retreats then with the changes of the modern work week with leisure travel.
The history of the cottage:
The background of William Dinker, the original owner of the home
Mr. Dinker’s family history. The house was first owned by the Dinker family and then the Irwin family.
The Irwin family history
The second family, the Irvin’s buys the home
The history of the development of the museum
The front of the museum building was dedicated to the history of beach life in Bethany. This was complete with bathing outfits and the history of swimming for pleasure. One covered up at the shore to show respect and modesty.
The bathing costumes from the turn of the last century
Life at the beach
Swimming at the shore would change a lot in the next 100 years.
Life Guard uniform
The modern life guards were developed in response to the increasing tourism and modern ocean swimming. In 1942, the beach community got its first female life guard, Marjorie Townsend Bramhall Slaughter. Her two sons would follower her into the profession.
The first female life guard in Bethany Beach
The start of tourism in Bethany Beach started first with ship then by rail and then by car. As the modern highways brought more people to the shore, the town continued to progress.
Early tourism and travel to Bethany Beach
The kitchen was original to the house and some of the original items to the home are on display. As small as the house was meals were still a serious affair at the shore. Fresh fish, fruits and vegetables were all available at farm stands as they are today.
The kitchen of a beach town
The kitchen of a beach home
The ice box of the turning of the last century
The hand pump
The kitchen items, foods and recipes
The kitchen provided a look of what was in the pantry at the time. The kitchen even included recipes for meals that would have been popular at the time.
The house served as the post office at that time
The house once served as the post office for the community.
The collection travel postcards in the museum’s collection. This shows the progression of working people at the time and how leisure travel became popular first with the railroads and then by car.
The Horse Racing in the area
The Chautauqua Assembly records on display
The development of religious communities at the beach
The museum gives a glimpse of the past of this diverse beach community from its development as a religious retreat to its development as the modern resort of today.
The front of the Indian River Life Saving Museum at 25039 Coastal Highway
History of the Indian River Life Saving Station:
(From the Delaware State Park website)
The original Indian River Life-Saving Station was built in 1876 for use by the United States Lifesaving Service, a government organization created to respond to the alarming number of shipwrecks along the coastlines of the United States and the precursor to today’s U. S. Coast Guard. The Life Saving Station today is a maritime museum that honors these courageous sailors and the rich history of their deeds. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, it is a must visit piece of Delaware history.
The front of the historical sign describing the park
The recent History of the Museum:
(From the Delaware State Park website)
The building was first located 400 feet closer to the shore, but a sand dune began to form around it almost as soon as it was finished. It was moved to its present location in 1877, and today has been meticulously restored to its 1905 appearance, complete with diamond-shaped trim. The museum is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The entrance of the museum
The Screening Room in the Visitors Center where you learn about the Life Saving Center
I started my tour of the Indian River Life Saving Museum at the Visitors Center with a quick video of the history of the building and the men who lived and worked here. The organization was the precursor to the modern Coast Guard. What I thought was interesting is that the way of rescuing people has not changed that much since the 1800’s. It has modernized with equipment and knowledge but the process is still similar to what it was then.
The Screening Room lined with historical pictures
The Screening Room lined with pictures of the history of the area
You can take two audio tours as you start to tour the station building just by calling into your phone, one of the exterior and one of the interior, room by room. Each room and many objects have a number assigned to them and you can listen to a description of the subject matter.
The Rescue Saving Station from the exterior. The building has a Queen Ann design.
The first room you enter is the kitchen area where all meals were prepared and the men ate their meals. These men could not leave the facility because of the hours and type of work required, supplies were brought in and stored in this area.
The old ice box where foods were stored
The pantry area where all the dry goods were stored
For recreation, the men read, entertained themselves with music and conversation. This room was used for recreation purposes and some down time for the staff.
The first floor downstairs room was used for entertainment and recreation during the downtimes
Old equipment and relics on display in the main room
Old equipment used at the station house
Methods of tying ropes and nautical rescues illustrated
Portrait of one of the old station masters
The main room held all the rescue equipment used to save both people and property. This included all the boats, ropes, pulleys and buckets for rescue.
The main rescue boat and paddles
The rescue boat used by the station to save people and cargo
Ropes and wenches to save and pull in damaged vessels
The bucket rescue method
The second floor contained the living quarters. Since the Team worked in shifts, pretty much no one left the building except for small breaks. The men slept in shifts with one man working night duty in four hour intervals to watch the shore for wrecks.
The living quarters for the station master
The small office in the room
The men slept on one room with the window facing the sea in a dorm like setting. The room was equipped with natural light and a view of the sea to watch over the coastline.
The bedroom of the men on duty
The bedroom
Separate room for private time
The locker storage area where each man’s personal items
The stairs leading to the portico for lookout duties
The grounds of the Rescue Saving complex and its location near the beach.
The tour was a lot of fun and gives you a glance of the heroism and isolated life of these men must have been back then. Today there are things like rotations and vacations, opinions that some of the men back then did not seem to have. Still these brave, well trained men kept the beaches and the oceans safe for many seafarers.
The Lewes Maritime Museum at the Cannonball House at 118 Front Street
The Lewes Historical Society promotes and advocates the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Lewes region, through museum exhibits, educational programs, historical research, and publications.
About The Lewes Maritime Museum at the Cannonball House
The Cannonball House was built c. 1765 and was once the home of Gilbert McCracken and David Rowland, pilots for the Bay & River Delaware. The Cannonball House has come to symbolize not only the Society, but the town of Lewes as well; previous uses included a restaurant, a laundry store, and, for a time, the mayor’s office. Harkening back to the town’s rich nautical heritage, the Cannonball House is the home of The Lewes Historical Society’s Maritime Museum. Nationally important pieces of maritime art and memorabilia are displayed in the house, including the Fresnel Lens of Fourteen Foot Bank Light. The exhibition of Breaking Britannia’s Grasp is also housed in the museum and is included in your admission.
Featured in many works on Delaware, the Cannonball House is a rare example of a Lewes house remaining on one site its entire existence. The Cannonball House was featured on the 2003 Lewes Business Directory (Lewes Historical Society website).
The front of the museum
Historic Marker
The Cannonball at the house (recreation)
On April 5, 2003, the Cannonball House was honored by the State of Delaware for its close association with the Bombardment of Lewes by the British on April 6th and 7th, 1813 and as the home of two heroes of those fateful days, Gilbert McCraken and his son Henry, both Pilots of the Bay & River Delaware.
The Gilber and Henry McCraken burial site in downtown Lewes
The tip of the anchor that Henry McCraken was buried with in the Episcopal Church cemetery.
The War of 1812 Park, across Front Street from the house and site of one of the two forts that defended Lewes during the bombardment, was also recognized. Gilbert & Henry McCracken served in a volunteer militia composed primarily of Delaware Pilots that defended Lewes until the end of the war in 1815 (Lewes Historical Society website).
Perhaps the two most famous landmarks in Lewes are the Zwaanendael Museum and the Cannonball House. Many visitors come to town seeking the famous house with a cannonball still in its side, yet many are unaware of how close the house was to being lost. During the summer of 1961, several Lewes citizens expressed concern that the town was losing its character as its old homes were slowly being lost. They were especially concerned about the plight of what they knew as the Capt. David Rowland House – an ancient one with a distinguished history; built prior to the revolution, it had been the home of generations of river and bay pilots and had been scarred by cannon fire during the War of 1812 (Lewes Historical Society website).
The inside of the Lewes Maritime Museum at the Cannonball House has many exhibitions to view.
the Pilots display inside the Cannonball Museum
The Philadelphia exhibition
Display at the museum
The lighthouse display
The lighthouse light
The lighthouse display
The Shipping Display
Object from the Shipping Display
The museum had a display about life at sea. This included the bunking of sailors in the hull at that time. This was interesting look at life at that time.
The signs
The signs
Life on the ship
Still the most famous pieces in the museum is the cannonballs.
The Cannonball that hit the house
Cannonballs dredged from the canal.
The second floor ‘Henry Edmonds’ artifacts
Wreckage artifacts on the second floor
Downtown Lewes map
Ship attacks
The New “Wireless Age” exhibition
The ‘Wireless Age’ exhibition
The ‘Wireless Age’ exhibition
The ‘Wireless Age’ exhibition
The Children’s exhibition for the ‘Wireless Age’
The Grounds of the Lewes Maritime Museum at the Cannonball House have all sorts of artifacts on the outside of the property include bells, boats and buildings. Take time during the season to walk the grounds and look over all the items in the garden.
The museum courtyard
The museum courtyard
The bell
The ice house in the courtyard
The Rescue Boat
One night they met on Pilottown Road and decided something needed to be done right then and there – at that moment The Lewes Historical Society was formed. Members were sought, funds raised, and the property was acquired – the historic Burton-Ingram House on Second Street. Two years later in 1963, the young historical society had raised the money to purchase the Rowland House, also commonly called the Cannonball House in honor of its scars from the infamous Bombardment of Lewes (Lewes Historical Society website).
The Lewes Historical Society at 110 Shipcarpenter Street (Hiram Rodney Burton House-History below)
The Mission Statement of the Lewes Historical Society
(From the Lewes Historical Society Website)
Our Mission:
The Lewes Historical Society promotes and advocates the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Lewes region, through museum exhibits, educational programs, historical research, and publications.
The Society:
(From the Lewes Historical Society Website)
The Lewes Historical Society can trace its roots to a small group of concerned citizens who joined forces to establish the organization in 1962. Troubled by the loss of significant local structures and the deterioration of historic buildings, the group invited like-minded Lewes residents to join as members, a group that continues to grow each year.
The Visitor’s Center
The Visitor’s Center sign
The Visitor’s Center-The Historical sign of the Ryves-Holt House, the oldest home on its own foundation in Delaware and one of the few left in the United States of America
The Jacob Rudd display at the Visitor’s Center
Starting with the purchase of a lot at Third and Shipcarpenter Street, the campus of the Lewes Historical Society was gradually assembled as buildings threatened with destruction or abandonment were moved to the property. Today, there are a dozen buildings that tell the history of Lewes through the display of artifacts, artwork, decorative arts, and furnishings.
The Cannonball Museum courtyard
Three buildings are located in the heart of town, the Ryves Holt House (c. 1631), the Cannonball House (c 1760) and the Museum Store (c. 1898). On the canal, you will find the Lewes Life-Saving Station (c. 1884).
I recently visited the Lewes Historical Society in Lewes, DE. Part of the grounds were open that afternoon for what looked like a special event. I saw costumed actors walking around the grounds but the main building was closed so I figured it was for a private event. Still they opened all the outer buildings on the grounds so I was able to visit the School House, the Doctor’s Office, the General Store and some of the historical homes. The grounds were just coming into bloom with the first day of Spring just a couple of days earlier.
The grounds are very well signed so that you can take the tour on your own. The exhibits are very well detailed and have lots of artifacts that make them interesting to visit. You get a grasp of what life was like at the turn of the last century. The grounds were nicely landscaped so it will be something to see in the late Spring and early Summer. Most of the special events and meetings don’t start until April when it starts to get busy again. There is a lot planned so look at their website for events and when they are scheduled.
I toured most of the grounds that were open that afternoon and also toured the Lewes History Museum in another part of the downtown a few blocks away. The museum tells the history of Lewes and also has a nice collection of artifacts. The Cannonball House on Front Street is closed for now for renovations but I was able to tour it last September. It has a nice collection of shipping, fishing and Revolutionary War pictures and artifacts. The grounds of that museum are open and there is a lot to see in their courtyard. The Cannonball House will be open in May of 2023. I will be revisiting all three again closer to the summer.
Each of the open buildings were filled with artifacts that represented the building. The School House was prepared for the first day of school circa 1890-1920. It is amazing how much a school has not really changed that much in setup since that time. The board is still up front and the desks lined up perfectly.
The Doctor’s Office is nearly the same as a current one with different equipment. Still you would think that the doctor just stepped out for a moment. The room was filled with medical equipment of that time period. The Thompson Country Store was the most interesting in that the store was opened in the late 1880’s and closed in 1962. The attached house is intact with the connections to other parts of the home and the store was fully stocked with merchandise.
With the seasons just changing to Spring, the grounds were filled with daffodils, crocuses and Tulips that were all peeking out of their Winter slumber. Everything was coming back to life and it was a very nice, mild Spring afternoon of walking around the grounds and visiting the buildings that were open.
It will be fun to see the whole Society grounds when everything is open and ready to go for the season.
The Cannonball House grounds during Christmas time
Situated on the Campus is a range of examples of Lewes architecture: the early plank house (c. 1690), Hiram Rodney Burton House (c. 1720), the Rabbits’ Ferry House (c. 1740), the Burton-Ingram House (c. 1785), the Ellegood House and Blacksmith Shop (c. 1790), Thompson Country Store (c 1800), the Doctor’s Office (c. 1850) and the Midway School (c. 1898).
Lewes Historical Society’s grounds in the early Spring
The most recent addition is the Lewes History Museum, located in the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center on 101 Adams Avenue. Here you will find permanent and changing exhibits that offer insights into the complex and colorful history of Lewes and the surrounding area. This building is also the repository of the Archives of the Lewes Historical Society, which are available to the public, by appointment.
Lewes History Museum at 101 Adams Avenue is part of the Lewes Historical Society
As you browse the LHS website, you will discover a robust calendar of annual events, including the Mid Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival, Craft Fairs, Maritime Festival & Antique Show, Speaker Series, Living History Tavern Talk, Artist as Historian, camps and other programs for children. Join us for one of these programs and consider becoming a member of this vibrant arts and cultural organization.
The Drying Machine at the Lewes Historical Society’s grounds
The History of the Society:
(From the Lewes Historical Society website):
Around 1960, a local newspaper columnist named Marjorie Virden wrote several articles for the local papers lamenting the fact that many of Lewes’ fine eighteenth-century buildings were rapidly disappearing. Particular attention was called to the plight of the David Rowland House on Front Street, which carries in its foundation a cannonball memento of the War of 1812 and the Bombardment of Lewes in April of 1813. Over the years, the house had been so neglected that the interior brick nogging was visible through missing shingles.
Historical Home on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society
The inside of the historical house
One day in 1961, a group of concerned citizens including Robert Orr, Ginnie Orr, and Sarah Chambers were sailing down the canal towards Roosevelt Inlet. As they passed the Rowland House, someone remarked that no action had been taken to save Lewes’s historic architecture despite much talk. That same evening, Mrs. Orr held a meeting for dozens of concerned citizens at her house. Soon after, a general meeting was held to organize The Lewes Historical Society. Temporary officers were selected, invitations sent – with excellent results – to prospective members, and The Lewes Historical Society was officially founded on January 19, 1962.
The Doctor’s Office
19th Century Medicine
The inside of the Doctor’s office of the 19th Century
Later that year, a lot at the corner of Third and Shipcarpenter Streets was purchased and named the Lewes Historic Complex. The Burton-Ingram House, Thompson Country Store, Rabbits’ Ferry House, Creamery, Necessary, Early Plank House, Blacksmith Shop, and Ellegood House were gradually moved to the Complex and restored. Conservation efforts continue today. The neglected house of David Rowland was eventually bought by the Society and restored. Today it sits on its original site at the corner of Front and Bank Streets and serves as the popular Cannonball House Maritime Museum.
The front grounds of the Lewes Historical Society-The Hiram Rodney Burton House
In 1989, the John Farrace Bequest enabled the Society to purchase 110 Shipcarpenter Street, then known as the Watts property, and renamed as the Hiram Rodney Burton House to honor a local physician and Delaware’s Congressman from 1901-to 1904. This structure houses the Society’s administrative offices. In 1991, Freddie’s Barn, the Society’s maintenance facility, was built to honor long-time historic preservationist and restoration specialist, Fred Hudson, who has worked for the Society since the summer of 1962. The Doctor’s Office, previously located on Second Street, was moved to the Complex to consolidate Society properties and in 2000, it was joined by Midway School #178.
Freddie’s Barn on the Lewes Historical Society property
The plaque dedicated to Fredrick E. Hudson for Freddie’s Barn
With the cooperation of the City of Lewes, the Society received a lease to the waterfront property on the canal at the foot of Shipcarpenter Street, where the boathouse of the Lewes Life Saving Station sits. Since 1997, the Society has leased the Ryves Holt House at the corner of Second and Mulberry Streets from the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware. Located in the heart of Lewes’s thriving business district, the Ryves Holt House serves as the Society’s Visitors Center, gift shop, and the permanent Jacob Jones Exhibition.
The Ryves Holt House is the Lewes Information office
The Lewes Information office gardens in the early Spring
The Zwaanendael Park in the Spring. This is just behind the Information building
Zwaanendael Park in the Spring
The entrance of the Lewes Historical Society
The Society continues to offer a rich and exciting array of activities that engage our visitors and promote Lewes’ unique heritage to an ever-increasing number of seasonal guests and year-round residents of the area. From our interpretive programs such as Tavern Talks to the Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass Festivals, Antique Shows, and Craft Fairs the Society offers annual programs that have become signature events.
The Thompson Country Store
The Thompson Country Store
The inside of the Thompson Country Store
The Society has sponsored several conferences on Lewes and Delaware History, has invited numerous local, national, and international scholars and dignitaries to speak at its events, and promotes the arts and cultural exploration and appreciation in Southern Delaware. As Lewes continues to grow, the Society will strive to maintain a record of the past of this special and ancient town by the sea.
The Society Home-The Burton-Ingram House
The sign of the Burton-Ingram House
The Sussex Tavern is a recreation of a tavern in the 1700’s complete with a bar area, dining tables with food and menus of the items that could be ordered. The tavern was the focal point for travelers and locals alike to share a meal, ideas and politics. It was the center point for most communities.
The Sussex Tavern is open once a month for special events
The Sussex Tavern on the Lewes Historical Society grounds
The inside of the Sussex Tavern
The Tavern Menu
The Tavern is open in season for drinks snacks
A meal inside of the Sussex Tavern
The inside of the Sussex Tavern
The School House on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society
The inside of the School House
The Outhouse
The gardens and grounds in the Spring 2023
The grounds in 2023
The Outhouse in the Spring 2023
Don’t miss this wonderful self-guided tour of the Lewes Historical Society.
During Christmas of 2024, I came to the Society site for the Christmas holidays and it was closed for the day but I could still enjoy the buildings decorations. It was nicely decorated with wreaths and garland. Very nice at this time of the year.
The historical society decorated for the holidays
The Inn decorated for the family
The doorways decorated for the holidays with wreaths and garland
The barn decorated for the holidays
Even entering and leaving Lewes is very festive. It puts you in the holiday spirit.
Visiting a Museum: The Unique, Unusual, Obscure and Historical 