This original state capital, about 7 mi/11 km south of Wilmington, is a major colonial seaport on the Delaware River. New Castle's biggest attraction is its authenticity. The town remains similar to the way it appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries with original brick houses and public buildings, cobblestoned streets and a central square known as The Green.
Among the sites open to the public are the New Castle Court House Museum (built in 1732, one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the U.S.) and the Federal-style Read House and Gardens, built in 1801 by the son of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Amstel House and Dutch House are fine examples of Georgian and Dutch colonial architecture.
The New Castle Court House provides a free leaflet with directions for self-guided walking tours. "A Day in Old New Castle," conducted annually in May, offers visitors a chance to tour the town's historic private homes, gardens and museums.
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