Lewes Historical Society leads tours of historic Lewes

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

This year, the Lewes Historical Society celebrates 50 years of embracing Lewes history by offering multiple tour options to the public. Experience one or all of the following: the Lewes Museum Tour, the Maritime Tour, the Haunted Lewes Tour, the Architectural Tour, the Cemetery Tour or the Trolley Tour. Tickets for all of the tours can be purchased at the Ryves Holt House Museum Gift Shop at the corner of Second and Mulberry streets, and all except the Trolley Tours depart from that location.

Lewes Museum Tours run at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, a tour begins at 1:30 p.m. The cost is $10. Society members, children and students are free.

This tour features the Lewes Historic Complex, in the block facing Shipcarpenter Street and edged by West Third Street on the northern edge of Lewes. The grounds hold nine historic buildings dating from the mid-1600s to the late 1800s and clearly illustrate the impact of the sea on the community and Lewes’s penchant for moving buildings from site to site. With the exception of the Hiram Rodney Burton House, which is at its original location, all the buildings have been moved from other locations in Lewes or surrounding communities. The tour highlights the Hiram Rodney Burton House (c.1694), Burton-Ingram House (c.1785), Rabbit’s Ferry House (c.1741), Midway School #178 (c.1898), Doctor’s Office (c.1850), Early Plank House (c.1700s), Thompson Country Store (c.1800), Ellegood House and Lewes Blacksmith Shop (c.1785).

Maritime Tours are at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with additional tours at 2 p.m. Tuesday and Friday. The cost is $10 and includes admission to the Cannonball House. Members, children and students are free.

This is a guided journey through the salty history of Lewes’ past. A docent will share the early history of Lewes and the first explorers who came here on ships across the Atlantic; there will also be a walk through Native American history. The tour will make a stop at the Lewes Life-Saving Station (c.1884) where participants will learn about the history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the men who risked their lives to save others. The tour ends at the Cannonball House - Lewes Maritime Museum. This museum is self-guided and contains part of the society’s collection of maritime artifacts. Artifacts that tell of Lewes’ storied past with the sea are exhibited, including the fourth-order Fresnel lens from Fourteen Foot Bank Light in Delaware Bay. This tour is approximately 3/4 of a mile in length and takes about one hour and 30 minutes, not including the visitors’ time in the Lewes Maritime Museum at the Cannonball House. The walk requires a moderate level of endurance and has uneven walking areas of stone and a short flight of steps.

The Haunted Lewes Tours occur at 8 p.m., Saturdays from June 23 through Sept. 29. The cost is $10. Tours leave from the museum gift shop. Preregistration is required at the gift shop or by calling 302-645-7670, Ext.12. Group maximum is 20 people.

The walking tour has stops at St. Peter's, Market Street, Third Street, Savannah Road, the War of 1812 Park and finally a visit to the Cannonball House about an hour and a half later. Tourists are encouraged to bring flashlights and cameras.

The Architectural Tours occur at 6 p.m.,Tuesdays, June 12 and 26; July 3, 10, 17 and 24. The cost is $10. Tickets can be purchased at the museum gift shop, but reservations are preferred; call 302-645-7670, Ext.12. Group maximum is 12 people.

This tour is designed to introduce visitors to the various styles of Victorian architecture and illustrate with existing houses how those styles and stylistic elements have been used in Lewes.  Tour duration is about 1 3/4 hours. Distance covered is a bit more than a mile. The route includes Second, Market, and Mulberry streets.

The Cemetery Tours occur at 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, June 19 and 26; July 3, 17, 24, 31; Aug. 7, 21 and 28. The cost is $10.  Preregistration is required at the museum gift shop or 302-645-7670, Ext.12. Group maximum is 20 people.

With the exception of a few scattered family burial grounds, all the cemeteries are associated with churches, and without exception, they all tell the story of the history of Lewes over the last 300 years.

Trolley Tours will run at 11:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from June 19 to Sept. 13. The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for students and children over 2. Children under 2 are free unless their parents want to guarantee a seat - then the price is $3 per child. Tours leave from the Trolley Stop at the corner of Second and Market streets, beside St. Peter's cemetery.  Preregistration is not required, but to make reservations, call 302-645-7670, Ext.12.

The one-hour tour will feature the Lewes of yesterday and today in a 5 1/2-mile trip around Lewes. This tour is a joint project of the Lewes Historical Society and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.

Field trips and interactive educational group walking tours of historic Lewes can also be arranged to show the highlights of Lewes in a meaningful context.

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.