Three Museums, Four Centuries of New Castle's History 

The New Castle Historical Society's three museums tell unique and distinct stories about the town's past and its residents. From Dutch laborers and British colonial governors to prominent American architects, the New Castle Historical Society celebrates New Castle's diverse history from the town's 17th century founding through the preservation efforts of the 21st century.

  • Treasure your stay amid the old world charm of Historic New Castle on the Delaware, with its cobblestone streets, town green, and quaint shopping district.
  • Huddle around the fireplace in the house of humble laborers and see where they slept after a hard days work.
  • Step into Governor Van Dyke's front parlor, where George Washington once helped to celebrate a wedding.
  • Feel the warmth of the patina of timeless American and European antiques.
  • Stroll the brick paths of early gardens of boxwood, perennials, and herbs.

Guided tours for individual guests or groups include an overview of the history of the houses, the families who lived at the sites, and collections contained within the museums.

Welcome to New Castle Historical Society in Delaware! from New Castle Historical Society on Vimeo.

ALL MUSEUMS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.


Click the photo to learn more about the house.
 Amstel House The First Grand Mansion of Delaware

2 East Fourth Street, New Castle, DE 19720

  • 2020 Annual Schedule:
    Walk-in, guided tours are available April 1 - December 30. (Please note, the museums are closed Monday & Tuesday.)

    Group tours are available year round by appointment. Call 302-322-2794.


  • Museum Hours: 
    Wednesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm. Amstel House tours begin at 10 am, Noon, and 2 pm.

    Sunday, 12-4. Amstel House tours begin at Noon and 2 pm.
    (Tours are approximately 45 minutes)

     
    Garden Hours: 
    Daily, Sunrise to Sunset, except during wedding ceremony rentals and during snow and ice storms.

    NOTE: From April through mid-June, large student groups often visit the museum between 10 am and 1:30 pm on weekdays. To avoid any inconvenience, please call the Society at 302-322-2794 to check our schedule of school tours before your visit. 

  • Admission:

    All tickets are sold at the New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal at 30 Market Street.

    Adults
    $7 for Amstel House
    $12 for combination ticket to Amstel and Dutch Houses.


    Children
    Ages 6-12, $3 for Amstel     House
    $4 for combination ticket to Amstel and Dutch     Houses.
     
    We accept, cash, checks, debit or credit (Apple Pay, Google Pay, MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express) for admission tickets at the New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal, 30 Market Street.


Click the photo to learn more about the house.
 Dutch House Delaware’s Early Colonial Gem

32 East Third Street,New Castle, DE 19720

  •  2020 Schedule:
    Walk-in, guided tours are available April 3 - December 29. (Please note, the museums are closed Monday & Tuesday.)

    Group tours are available year round by appointment. Call 302-322-2794.
  • Museum Hours: 
    Wednesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm. Dutch House tours begin at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

    Sunday, 12-4. Dutch House tours begin at 1 pm and 3 pm. (Tours are approximately 40 minutes)

     
    Garden Hours: 
    Daily, Sunrise to Sunset, except during wedding ceremony rentals and during snow and ice storms.

    NOTE: From April through mid-June, large student groups often visit the museum between 10 am and 1:30 pm on weekdays. To avoid any inconvenience, please call the Society at 302-322-2794 to check our schedule of school tours before your visit. 

  • Admission:

    All tickets are sold at the New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal at 30 Market Street.

    Adults
    $7 for Dutch House
    $12 for combination ticket to Amstel and Dutch Houses.


    Children
    Ages 6-12, $3 for Dutch     House
    $4 for combination ticket to Amstel and Dutch     Houses.
     
    We accept, cash, checks, debit or credit (Apple Pay, Google Pay, MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express) for admission tickets at the New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal, 30 Market Street.


Click the photo to learn more about the building

 Old Library Museum A Fanciful Victorian Classic by Frank Furness

40 East Third Street,New Castle, DE 19720.

2020 Exhibit: 
Details and operating hours to be announced soon.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

The New Castle Historical Society, Museums and Visitor Center are all closed on the following holidays:

New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.

DISCOUNTED ADMISSION

Partner Places - National Trust For Historic Preservation

Members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation receive discounted admission to the Amstel and Dutch Houses. NTHP members receive $2.00 off a combination ticket to both houses or $1.00 off a ticket to a single house. To receive the discount, you must show your current NTHP membership card at the time of purchase. Cannot be combined with other discounts. 

AUDIO TOURS

New Castle AudioWalk

The New Castle Historical Society offers a self-guided audio walking tour for individuals that want to learn more about the New Castle National Historic Landmark District. For more information about the New Castle AudioWalk, or our many group tour options, please visit our Educational Programs & Tours page. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Parking  

Free on-street parking is available throughout New Castle. On special event days, satellite parking is available and noted on your approach to the town.

Accessible parking for the New Castle Visitor Center at the Arsenal is available on Delaware Street in front of the New Castle Court House. A curb cut is at the corner of Market and Delaware Streets.

Severe Weather Policy

The museums and offices of the New Castle Historical Society are closed for severe weather whenever the Colonial School District is closed. To check the school district's status visit wjbr.com or listen to 99.5 FM in Wilmington, Delaware.

Accessibility
There is limited wheelchair access in our historic buildings. The first floors of the Arsenal and Amstel House are fully accessible. 

Sidewalks in Historic New Castle are brick and may be uneven in places. 

The Society has a limited number of lightweight portable seats available in the Amstel House & Dutch House for the convenience of our guests.

A video tour of the Old Library building and exhibit is available in the Visitor Center at the Arsenal. 

Photography
Interior photography is permitted within the museums of the New Castle Historical Society as long as no flash is used. Exterior amateur photography is welcomed and encouraged!

The Amstel and Dutch House gardens are beautiful settings for professional wedding, fashion, and portrait photography.  Contact our director, Mike Connolly, at 302-322-2794 to make arrangements to use the gardens for your special photo shoot.  A donation to support the maintenance of the properties is requested. 

Visitor Amenities   
The Society also operates the New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal, located at 30 Market Street. Public restrooms are available at the Visitor Center, the New Castle Courthouse, and Battery Park. To preserve the integrity of our historic properties, public restrooms are not available inside our museums.

First State National Histroical Park passport cancellation stamps are available at the New Castle Visitor Center at The Arsenal and the New Castle Court House Museum. Be sure to visit both to collect all of New Castle’s stamps.

Our historic museums are air-conditioned in summer.

Battery Park, along the Delaware River, has picnic tables, a playground, tennis and basketball courts, and a walking path. The walking path is part of the East Coast Greenway.

New Castle Dining

There are several restaurants located within walking distance of the Society's museums including: 

China East ($)

Subway ($)

Jessop's Tavern ($$ - $$$)

Cafe New Castle ($ - $$)

Nora Lee's French Quarter Bistro ($$ - $$$)

Porto-Fino's Pizza & Restaurant ($$)

Pizza History ($)

Sonora at the David Finney Inn ($$-$$$)

New Castle Shopping

Be sure to visit our locally-owned businesses and specialty shops located in Historic New Castle Town Center, including:       

2nd Act Antiques, Collectibles & Treasures

Bridgewater Jewelers

Mo’zart Gallery

Fresh Faced Skin Care

Cobblestone Antiques

Oak Knoll Books

Rodney Pratt Framing & Gallery

New Castle Farmers Market

Lodging

Lodging is available in Historic New Castle at 

The Terry House B&B   

Other New Castle lodging includes:

Clarion Hotel, The Belle

Fairfield Inn & Suites Wilmington New Castle

Quality Inn & Suites Skyways

Additional lodging is available in Christiana, Bear, & Wilmington, Delaware. 

For additional information about visiting New Castle, visit Historic New Castle Community Information

Questions?   

Call 302-322-2794, or email us at info@newcastlehistory.org for information.