Delaware

I think of Wayne’s World every time I’m whisked away to Delaware, Sorry, Delaware—Land of No Sales Tax.

The day my uncle and I visited the Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover, DE was a productive day that started out at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, MD. Given the proximity to Maryland’s capital (about one hour), we decided to be efficient and visit two capitols in one day.

After driving east on U.S. 301 across the mighty Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the roads narrowed as we approached Dover. With a population of around 40,000, you can get in and out quickly. Hidden from the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden I-95 megalopolis, it is also one of the smallest capital cities in the United States.

Links to the Delaware Legislative Hall’s main website often redirect to the Delaware General Assembly site (learn more about how to plan a visit to the Hall).

The Delaware Legislative Hall has been the home of the Delaware Governor and General Assembly since 1933, making this a relatively new building compared to capitols and state houses in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the United States.

The General Assembly consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. Each chamber is cozy and small, so touring the Delaware Legislative Hall doesn’t take a lot of time.

The day we visited, Delaware State University held a Juneteenth event at the Legislative Mall behind the hall, so we made a stop there to browse the booths before heading over to The Dover Green National Historic District, which includes 79 buildings that made up most of 18th-century Dover. This includes the Old State House, which was used until the Legislative Hall was built. Absolutely make time for this.

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