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First State National Historical Park Gaining A Visitor Center

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By Compiled From N... - December 6th, 2021

First State National Historical Park is gaining a visitor center/NPS file

A historic building is being transformed into a visitors center for First State National Historical Park in Delaware.

The National Park Service is providing a $5.4 million construction contract to rehabilitate the historic Sheriff’s House at the park into the visitors center. The Sheriff’s House is a contributing feature to the New Castle National Historic Landmark Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We are looking forward to restoring this significant property. Serving as the welcome center for park visitors, the Sheriff’s House will interpret the nationally significant stories that shaped the nation’s first state through photos, exhibits and audio-visual displays,” said Dan Dilworth, the park's acting superintendent.

The restoration of the Sheriff’s House will transform the building to serve as the principal location for visitors to get an orientation to the park’s six sites, and to understand the themes that connect them. Visitors are then encouraged to get a more in-depth, place-based visitor experience at the partner sites throughout the state.

In addition, the rehabilitation will provide NPS staff office space on the 2nd floor. The construction project includes exterior accessibility improvements, utility improvements, exterior stone repair and repointing, interior restoration and replacement work, and exhibit fabrication and installation.

Because the Sheriff’s House is located between the New Castle Court House Museum and the New Castle Arsenal, popular visitor destinations, construction will be limited to the area immediately adjacent to the Sheriff’s House and mitigation measures will be implemented to limit the impact to visitors and staff.

The project is being funded through the National Park Service's line-item construction program, and the Park Service is coordinating with the State of Delaware and the New Castle Historical Society on the project. Construction is targeted to begin in the new year and is expected to last about 14 months.

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