Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge makes the salt marsh a starting point for nature discoveries. The refuge stretches eight miles along Delaware Bay and covers 16,251 acres. It protects one of the largest remaining areas of tidal salt marsh in the Mid-Atlantic region. The landscape is therefore at the heart of the experience, and its distinctive character cannot be reduced to a single spot.
To explore the refuge, you can take a 12-mile wildlife drive, follow one of five walking trails, or visit one of three observation towers. These options offer different perspectives: you can focus on the drive, a trail on foot, or an observation tower. Together, they show that there is more than one way to experience nature here.
History at the Plantation and the Green
John Dickinson Plantation is designated a National Historic Landmark and is part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Visitor Center has two exhibits with text panels about tenant farmers and indentured servants, as well as free and enslaved Black men, women, and children who lived, worked, and died at the plantation. The exhibits thus present different life stories and experiences in the context of plantation life. John Dickinson himself grew up on his father’s plantation at St. Jones Neck, southeast of Dover. His childhood there connects the plantation’s name to a specific biographical context, while the exhibits also bring other groups and their living conditions into view.
The Dover Green can also be understood through several points in history. William Penn drew up the plan in 1683, and the Green was laid out in 1717. On December 7, 1787, thirty delegates—ten from each county—met there at the Golden Fleece Tavern and ratified the United States Constitution. This sequence leads from the planning of the site to an event in U.S. constitutional history without conflating the two dates. Partners of First State Heritage Park offer limited, 45-minute guided tours of historic downtown Dover at the Green: Thursdays through Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Schedules and fees may change, so check the current schedule before your visit.
Museums with Different Themes
Dover’s museums each have a different focus. The Johnson Victrola Museum explores the history of the Victor Talking Machine Company and the development of the sound recording industry. Exhibits include phonographs, recordings, memorabilia, trademarks, objects, and paintings. The Old State House, meanwhile, was Dover, Delaware’s first permanent capitol building—an approach to history distinct from the technology and industrial history of the Victrola Museum.
The Biggs Museum of American Art presents changing exhibitions on historical and contemporary art themes throughout the year. The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village focuses on agriculture: its programs complement exhibitions on the history and future of agriculture in Delaware. Viewed side by side, these museums offer different perspectives on art, technology, and agriculture, rather than serving as interchangeable stops.
Aviation and Outdoor Trails
The Air Mobility Command Museum displays more than 30 aircraft. Its collection ranges from an open-cockpit biplane to modern four-engine jet transports; the museum also offers free flight simulators. For your journey, note that the main entrance is on Rt. 9; access through Dover AFB is not possible. The entrance location and this access restriction are both important when planning your visit.
At Killens Pond State Park, you can compare two different ways to get around. An easy-to-ride bike path follows the main access road. The Pondside Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike, with connecting trails leading to viewpoints by the pond. The options differ both in activity and in stated difficulty: the bike path is described as easy to ride, while the Pondside Trail is rated as a hike. This lets you choose which option better suits your outing without treating the trails as involving the same kind of activity or level of effort.
Another date to keep in mind is Dover Days: the festival takes place on the first weekend in May and includes historical reenactments with volunteers dressed as well-known historical figures. Check the date for the relevant year before making plans.
Discover more destinations: Dover, Harrington, Sussex County, New Castle County.
For the main travel overview: Delaware.
