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Dutch heritage, Underground Railroad poetry and Colonial games featured at Delaware museums in April

Dutch games and crafts at Zwaanendael Museum April 10-12
February 14, 2014

During the month of April, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will offer 18 special programs at the state’s six museums. All programs listed are free and open to the public. For details about all programs, call 302-744-5055.

Delaware’s longstanding connection to the Netherlands, which stretches back in time to the state’s first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch in 1631 in present-day Lewes, will be explored in a series of programs at the Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway in Lewes.

From Thursday to Saturday, April 10 to 12, the museum will feature Dutch games, crafts and a display of Delftware ceramics as part of the Lewes Tulip Festival, a citywide series of activities celebrating Lewes’ Dutch roots. The museum will celebrate Dutch-American Friendship Day Saturday, April 19, which commemorates April 19, 1782, the day that John Adams was received by the States General in The Hague and recognized as minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America.

It was also the day that the house he had purchased at Fluwelen Burgwal 18 in The Hague was to become the first American embassy in the world. The museum will present King’s Day Saturday, April 26, as a celebration of the birthday of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

Other April highlights include “Delaware and the Underground Railroad Through Poetry,” an exploration of poetry written about the Underground Railroad by both popular and little-known poets. The program will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at The Old State House, 25 The Green in Dover.

Between The John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road in Dover, will present Colonial Games Day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 26, when visitors will have an opportunity to experience the fun and exercise of 18th and 19th century games including rolling hoops, ring toss and game of graces.

To find out more about the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and its programs, go to www.history.delaware.gov.

 

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