Lewes Historical Society announces fall tours beginning Sept. 1

From Captain Kidd to the salty courage of the Delaware pilots and the nationally recognized architecture of its historic district, Lewes's past is colorful, unique and proud. The ancient beam of old Cape Henlopen Light still haunts the local seas and local imaginations in Delaware's Saltiest Town.

The Lewes Historical Society invites all to explore the region with September and October tours: Life in Lewes Tour, Maritime Tour, Haunted Lewes Tour, and a variety of History Highlight Tours.

Unless otherwise noted, all tours leave from the Ryves Holt House Museum Gift Shop at the corner of Second and Mulberry streets. Tickets can be purchased at the shop or by calling 302-645-7670.

Society members, students and children are free. All tours are scheduled through the end of October.

The Life in Lewes Tour is a 90-minute walking tour through six historic buildings on the Historic Complex, where visitors will get to see how Lewes grew from a small Dutch settlement to a bustling seashore town.

This tour takes place beginning at 2 p.m., Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The cost is $10.

The Maritime Tour is a journey through Lewes’s salty past while learning of the explorers who first put Lewes on the map, the pirates that sailed the local waters, and the brave United States Life-Saving Service men who rescued victims from perilous shipwrecks.

This 90-minute walking tour includes admission to both the Lewes Life-Saving Station and the Cannonball House Maritime Museum. This tour takes place at 11 a.m., Mondays and Saturdays. The cost is $10.

Lewes is rich in paranormal tales, from the founding of Lewes in 1631 and the massacre of the settlers the following year, to specific house hauntings. Lewes is home to two of the most haunted places in Delaware - the unknown sailors’ cemetery at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and the Cannonball House. The 90-minute Haunted Lewes Tour introduces visitors to stories of strange happenings in the town. This tour takes place at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays. The cost is $10. Flashlights are recommended.

History Highlight walking tours are designed to give an in-depth look at a variety of interesting topics. Tour themes will include architecture, historic cemeteries, homesteading and more.

These specialty tours take place every other Wednesday through Oct. 29. The Lewes Cemetery Tours led by Russ Allen take place Sept. 17 and Oct. 29. Architectural Tours of Lewes led by Pat Hall take place Sept. 3 and Oct. 15. Lewes through a Woman’s Eyes is led by Lana Browne Oct. 1. All History Highlight Tours begin at 4 p.m.

For more information on The Lewes Historical Society, historic Lewes tours, museums, events and more, go to www.HistoricLewes.org or call 302-645-7670.