Zwaanendael Museum: A Dutch Legacy in Lewes

The Zwaanendael Museum, located in Lewes, Delaware, stands as a tribute to the state's first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch in 1631. Built in 1931 to mark the 300th anniversary of this settlement, the museum's architecture is inspired by the town hall of Hoorn, Netherlands, featuring a stepped facade gable, carved stonework, and decorated shutters. Crowning the building is a statue of David Pietersen de Vries, the leader of the Dutch expedition. The museum's exhibits delve into the maritime, military, and social history of the Lewes area. Visitors can explore the region's past through displays on shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the lives of those who lived and worked along Delaware's southeastern coast. One of the museum's more unusual artifacts is a Fiji merman, a 19th-century creation of a monkey's head sewn onto a fish's body. The museum also hosts rotating exhibits. Past exhibits include topics such as Delaware Railroads, the British warship DeBraak, and the Black American experience at Delaware's segregated beaches during the Jim Crow era. The museum provides self-guided tours, and staff members are available to answer questions.