Historic New Castle
Walk Delaware's colonial capital — cobblestone streets, a riverfront park and playground, and the courthouse whose dome anchors the state's curved border.
Delaware St & The Strand, New Castle, DE 19720
Hours
9 AM – 4:30 PM
Show the week Hide the week
| Sat | 9 AM – 4:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Sun | 11 AM – 4 PM |
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | Closed |
| Thu | 9 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Fri | 9 AM – 4:30 PM |
Last checked 2026-09-14
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- All ages
- Typical visit
- 1.5–3 hours
The Quick Version
- • Delaware's colonial capital and a walkable National Historic Landmark district — cobblestone streets, around 500 historic buildings, and the Delaware River right there.
- • Free to wander: the New Castle Court House Museum (free, National Park Service), Battery Park and its playground on the river, and the Green. The Historical Society's Amstel & Dutch House are ticketed.
- • The geeky-cool fact: the Court House cupola is the exact center of the Twelve-Mile Circle that draws Delaware's curved northern border.
- • Park once and walk; budget 1.5–3 hours. Best on a nice day — it's an outdoor, stroll-the-town outing.
Best Ages
All ages
Plan For
1.5–3 hours
Adults
Free to walk the district; Court House Museum free; Historical Society houses about $15
Kids
Free outdoors; about $6 at the Historical Society houses
What to Expect
New Castle is Delaware's colonial capital and one of the best-preserved colonial towns in the country — a National Historic Landmark district of about 500 buildings dating from 1700 to 1940, on the bank of the Delaware River. For families it's a park-once-and-walk outing.
Start at the New Castle Court House Museum (free, run by the National Park Service), the original colonial capitol and Delaware's first State House — and the building whose cupola is the exact center of the Twelve-Mile Circle that draws Delaware's famously curved northern border. Walk the cobblestone streets and the Green (where, by tradition, William Penn first set foot on American soil in 1682), then let the kids run at Battery Park and its playground along the river. The Historical Society's Amstel House and the circa-1700 Old Dutch House give a peek inside, ticketed.
Set expectations: this is a walking, history-and-riverfront outing, not a playground day — pace it, pair the free outdoor spots with one indoor stop, and save it for nice weather. Each June the town throws its Separation Day festival.
Who It's Best For
Little ones love Battery Park, the riverfront playground, and the open Green. Elementary-age kids and up get the history — the Court House, William Penn landing here, the border story. It's a walking-and-exploring outing, not a playground day, so pace it and mix the free outdoor stops with one indoor visit.
Highlights
New Castle Court House Museum
Ages 6+Free, and run by the National Park Service: the colonial capitol and Delaware's first State House — and the cupola at the exact center of the Twelve-Mile Circle.
Battery Park & playground
All agesRiverfront green space and a playground where little kids burn energy — the easy, free anchor of a New Castle visit.
Cobblestone streets & the Green
All agesWander a colonial town laid out in William Penn's day, who first landed in America right here in 1682.
Amstel House & Old Dutch House
Ages 6+The Historical Society's house museums (ticketed). The Old Dutch House dates to around 1700 — a real peek into early Delaware life.
Separation Day
All agesThe town's annual June festival on the riverfront — food, music, and fireworks.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Long indoor house tours with antsy toddlers — do Battery Park and the Court House, and save the house museums for older kids.
- • Strollers on the cobblestones — doable but bumpy; Battery Park is the smooth part.
- • A rainy day — most of this is outdoors.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Free to walk the district; Court House Museum free; Historical Society houses about $15
Kids
Free outdoors; about $6 at the Historical Society houses
Under
Free
Walking the town, Battery Park, the Green, and the New Castle Court House Museum (run by the National Park Service) are all free. The New Castle Historical Society's Amstel House and Old Dutch House charge admission (roughly $15 adult / $6 child). Check days and hours for the indoor sites before you go.
Getting There
Parking
Free street parking around Delaware Street and The Strand; Battery Park has its own parking by the river.
Weekend events — especially Separation Day in June — fill the streets, so come early.
Entrance
It's an open town. Start at the Court House on Delaware Street, or at Battery Park on the riverfront.
Parent Logistics
Sidewalks are stroller-fine, but the historic cobblestone and brick streets are bumpy. Battery Park's paths are the smooth, easy part.
Public restrooms at Battery Park; the museums have facilities.
Not confirmed — plan ahead.
Battery Park and the Green have shade trees; the streets are partly shaded.
Food & Snacks
Several restaurants and a cafe or two along Delaware Street and near the riverfront.
Snack strategy: Grab lunch in town, or pack a picnic for Battery Park overlooking the river.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Park once near Delaware Street or Battery Park and do the whole visit on foot.
- ✓ Mix it up: the free Court House plus the riverfront playground keeps kids happy alongside the history.
- ✓ Check days and hours for the Court House and the Amstel/Dutch House before you go — they're limited.
- ✓ Separation Day (June) is the big festival; come early for parking.
- ✓ At the Court House, point out that the dome above you is the exact center of Delaware's round border.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Nice-weather days. Separation Day (June) is the town's big festival. The Court House and the house museums keep limited days and hours, so check before counting on going inside.
Seasonal Notes
The walkable district is open year-round, but the indoor sites — the New Castle Court House Museum and the Historical Society's Amstel House and Dutch House — keep limited hours and seasonal days; check ahead. The Separation Day festival is held each June.
Rainy Day?
Mostly outdoors. On a wet day the indoor house museums (limited hours) are the only cover — better saved for nice weather.
While You're in the Area
Battery Park's playground is right in the district. Delaware City and the Fort Delaware ferry are a short drive south.
Upcoming Events
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