New Castle

This city sits along the Delaware River in New Castle County and contains over 500 buildings from the colonial and early modern periods, constructed between 1700 and 1940. Visitors walk along cobblestone streets lined with structures showing architectural styles that evolved across those two and a half centuries.

The Dutch West India Company founded Fort Casimir here in 1651 to secure trade routes along the Delaware River. English forces took control in 1664 and renamed the settlement, turning it into an administrative center for the region.

Residents gather every June to celebrate Separation Day, a local holiday marking when Delaware broke away from Pennsylvania, bringing the community together with parades and fireworks that fill the streets. The annual event keeps the memory of that decision alive while creating a moment when neighbors connect.

The Jack A. Markell Trail offers a paved path from here to Wilmington, running parallel to the riverbank and open to walkers and cyclists alike. The trail stays flat throughout its length and works for all fitness levels, with rest areas scattered along the route.

Three signers of the Declaration of Independence called this small community home: Thomas McKean, George Read, and George Ross all helped shape the new nation from here. Their houses now stand among the buildings visitors can discover walking the old streets.