Delaware combines a tangible architectural history with an urban trail network for outdoor recreation. Two historic buildings date to 1878; the park system currently includes 26 parks and 26 miles of trails. This gives you both a cultural and an active focus when searching for a hotel in Delaware.
Historic Buildings and Preservation
The Nash House was built by the Slattery family in 1878. The Historic Jail and Sheriff’s Residence was also built in 1878; in 1990, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This building is located in downtown Delaware. Both buildings share the same construction year, while 1990 marks a second, later milestone for the Historic Jail and Sheriff’s Residence: its inclusion in the register. The construction date and the register listing therefore refer to different milestones. The Slattery family is named as the builder of the Nash House; the other building’s name itself points to its use as a jail and sheriff’s residence. In this way, the specific building history and the later register listing offer distinct points of interest.
The cell block at the Historic Jail and Sheriff’s Residence is open for tours. Check the current tour arrangements before your trip so you can plan your visit accordingly.
The Downtown Historic District protects historic buildings in the city center through adopted architectural standards. This adds an urban perspective to the stories of individual homes: the focus here is on protecting historic buildings in the city center, rather than dating an individual home. The standards set an architectural framework, while a construction year indicates when a building was built and a register listing refers to a later entry. If you are interested not only in individual historic homes but also in protecting the building stock in the city center, the District offers a distinct way to explore the city’s history.
Parks and Trails
Delaware’s urban park system currently includes 26 parks and 26 miles of trails. The trails are maintained for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The figures describe different aspects: the number of parks indicates the facilities, while the mileage indicates the extent of the trail network. The 26 miles refer to the trails in the park system as a whole, not the length of a single route. For your planning, this is a different measure from a specific outing: the trail length helps you gauge the city’s offerings, while the user groups listed show which activities are taken into account in maintenance. This can help you decide whether you would rather spend your time outdoors walking, running, or cycling. These three activities differ in pace.
The historical information describes individual buildings by name, construction year, and register listing; the park and trail data describe the scale and use of the city’s recreational offerings.
Discover more destinations: Powell, Orange.
For the broader travel overview: Delaware County.
