The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum is grateful for the latest show of support from the City of Rehoboth Beach in forgiving an outstanding loan from the city.

The museum has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with the city. Housed in the historic Ice House, the museum has hosted more than 10,000 visitors since it’s opening in November 2007. Exhibits have featured treasures ranging from findings of a 17th Century archaeological dig to vintage surfboards. The city owns the Ice House building and the society has raised funds to preserve and expand the building, and fill it with exhibits that reflect the history of our beautiful city by the sea.

When the society leadership had raised nearly, but not all, of the money it needed to open the museum, the city generously stepped in and provided a loan to the society so that the first floor of the museum could be opened to the public. Through fundraising efforts and the generosity of our members and donors, the society has paid back half of the debt owed to the city. Recently, The city mayor and commissioners voted to forgive the remaining portion of the society’s debt to the city - an amount that makes the city the society’s largest donor to date.

The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society wishes to thank the city for its generosity. This gift demonstrates the powerful and positive good that can be done when a municipality and a nonprofit join forces to preserve historic buildings and treasures they can hold. We are grateful for the city’s faith in our ability to save and showcase historic items that reflect the many happy memories the public has shared with us. And we pledge to make the city proud by moving forward to finish the museum building, enabling us to mount many more exhibits, and share even more precious artifacts in our care with visitors in the coming years.

Paul Kuhns
president
Rehoboth Beach Historical Society