During the war, little formal effort marked July 4th as a holiday, but independence left a vivid impression. By the 1790s communities across the state held notable observances. A Wilmington celebration in 1797 was described “as the never to be forgot Fourth of July, marked by guns, flags, and marching horse and foot.” The 1876 Centennial saw Delaware's representation at the Philadelphia World's Fair. The 1976 Bicentennial was by far the largest commemoration, encompassing pollution programs, student exchanges with England, and buried time capsules. Looking toward the 250th anniversary, historians have found a public hunger not for broad mythology but for the specific, local stories of ordinary Delawareans who carried the Revolution forward. It is worth noting that Delaware also officially recognizes June 15th—the date of its separation from Pennsylvania—as an important day of state commemoration.
Interviewees
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Charles Fithian
- Delaware Archeologist, Delaware Historical Society
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Joseph Sullivan
- Welcome Center Supervisor, Delaware Public Archives
