Zwaanendael Museum

The Zwaanendael Museum stands at the corner of Savannah Road and Kings Highway in Lewes, and it is one of the most photographed buildings in Delaware. Its stepped gables, ornate brickwork and decorative details were designed to echo the town hall of Hoorn in the Netherlands, the home of the settlers who founded a whaling colony here in 1631. The building opened in the 1930s to mark the tercentenary of that settlement and today serves as a museum of the state's Dutch beginnings, the colony's violent end, and the maritime heritage of Lewes and the Delaware Bay.

Inside, exhibits cover the Dutch whaling attempt and its destruction by local Native Americans, the story of pirates, privateers and the British bombardment of the War of 1812, and the lighthouses and lifesaving stations that guarded the coast. A highlight for many visitors is the collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck of the HMS De Braak, a British warship that sank off Cape Henlopen in 1798. Models, charts, tools and photographs fill out a clear, compact narrative that works well for a short visit.

The museum is small, so plan about forty-five minutes to an hour, and use it as a hub for a day in Lewes. The building is a short walk from the Lewes Historical Society campus, the canal, restaurants and shops. Admission is typically free or low-cost, and the museum is operated by the state, with seasonal opening days and hours that vary by year, so check ahead. Many visitors pair it with a walking tour of the historic district.

Children usually like the building itself, which looks like something from a storybook, and the shipwreck relics give them concrete details to hunt for. The museum runs occasional events and programs for families and school groups, and the gift shop stocks books on local history. The surrounding lawn and street frontage are good for photographs, particularly in morning light, and the building is lit attractively on winter evenings.

A good way to use the visit is to ask for a short orientation from the staff, who often point out details in the building and the collection that visitors miss. Read the labels about the De Braak carefully, since the story of its treasure legends and its salvage is one of the best-known tales on this coast.

If you are traveling with children, ask whether there are activity sheets or scavenger prompts, and let them look for the Dutch gables and decorations on the outside before you go in. The museum sits within a block or two of cafes, so it is easy to pair with coffee or lunch.

Photographers should note that the stepped gable and arched windows look best in raking morning or late afternoon light, and that the lawn in front gives a clear view of the facade. In winter the building is sometimes decorated for the season, which adds charm. Because it is small, the museum is rarely crowded, and visitors who time their trip for a weekday morning often have the rooms nearly to themselves.