This Is Delaware's Quirkiest Little Town
Established in the early 17th century, the small town of Lewes is filled with fascinating stories that continue to shape its quirky character. Originally settled by Dutch colonists, the town still carries traces of its Dutch heritage. Local lore claims the Fountain of Youth is tucked away within Lewes, while a shipwreck off its coast, lost in the late 18th century, remained hidden until archaeologists uncovered it in 2004. These curious tales and historical surprises have left an imprint on the town, one that visitors can experience through its festivals, museums, and guided tours. Even if you think you know Lewes, some of the following quirky attractions are likely to surprise you!
Festivals & Events
With so many events happening throughout the year, it is difficult to narrow Lewes’s calendar down to just a few. The town’s Dutch heritage has contributed to its famed Tulip Celebration, a three-weekend-long spring festival that commemorates the blooming of its tulips. During the celebration, around 31,000 tulips and 5,000 spring bulbs bloom, filling the town with color. The event also features art exhibitions, history walking tours, tulip sales, and many other festive activities.
Another one of Lewes’s most beloved festivals takes place in April as well. The Great Delaware Kite Festival, which celebrated its 57th year this year, attracts kite flyers from across the state. The event features a kite competition with categories for children, teenagers, and adults, where participants are judged on their kite’s type, precision, size, and more. The festival also includes a face painter, food vendors, and local community organizations, adding to the event’s atmosphere.
Later in the year, in September, book enthusiasts from across the East Coast gather in Lewes for the History Book Festival, which attracts over 4,000 attendees. The festival this year will take place from September 26th through the 28th and will feature author presentations, book sales, signings, and a spirited discussion closing party. Perfect for those hoping to meet their favorite author or discover a new book!
The Roosevelt Inlet Shipwreck & The Zwaanendael Museum
In 2004, Lewes undertook a beach restoration project, placing tons of sand on Lewes Beach to replenish it. Little beknownst to the town, this sand was filled with artifacts from a mysterious shipwreck! In the decades that followed, beachcombers have donated thousands of artifacts to the state that have been connected to the shipwreck, with archaeologists now tracing it to a 1774 British Merchant Ship that collided with the present-day Roosevelt Inlet. If you find any artifacts that you believe to be associated with the wreck, the state asks that you bring them to Zwaanendael Museum to document and identify them. Simply interested in learning about the shipwreck? Make sure to check out the museum’s exhibit that explores it, titled “Rediscovery through Recovery,” which showcases the inlet shipwreck and the cargo that it held. While visiting the museum, travelers can take a look at several other exhibits, which explore the town’s maritime, social, and military history. Admission to the museum is free!
Fountain of Youth
The legendary tale of the Fountain of Youth has existed for millennia. But what if it has been in Delaware this whole time? According to local legend, Dutch colonists discovered the Fountain of Youth in Lewes in the 17th century. Several centuries later, in 1937, the Lewes Chamber of Commerce built a tiny gazebo to mark its fabled location. Over the following decades, however, the fountain fell into disrepair, drying out, leaving behind only mud and muck. Fortunately, in 2019, a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with her husband, cleaned out the well, repainted it, and restored its flow. The mystical conch shell cup, however, said to activate the fountain’s youthful powers, has mysteriously disappeared. Visit this mystical attraction and decide for yourself whether the legend holds any truth! Just do not drink the water, unless questionable pond scum is your secret to eternal youth.
Cruises & Tours
After revitalizing yourself at the Fountain of Youth, put that newfound energy to good use with a cruise around the Delaware Bay! Cape Water Tours offers several experiences for exploring the waters. Travelers hoping to learn about the waterways’ natural habitat or history can sign up for a narrated tour, which offers narrated maritime history tours, birding tours, eco tours, dolphin watching tours, and more. To enjoy the bay’s beautiful sunsets, travelers can also register for a sunset cruise, which departs from Lewes Ferry Terminal. Curious about the town’s music scene? Cape Water Tours also offers live music cruises, featuring on-board performances by rock guitarists, modern country acts, and ’70s pop artists, among other acts.
Although Lewes is home to fewer than 4,000 residents, the stories the town can tell make it anything but quiet. The annual Tulip Celebration is a wonderful way to experience a piece of the town’s Dutch Heritage, while the quirky Fountain of Youth ties back to centuries of local history. As you begin to plan your own trip to Lewes, don’t be surprised if you discover an odd attraction or tale of your own!
