Community celebrates opening of Lewes History Museum

It's taken 385 years, but the City of Lewes finally has a comprehensive collection of its history under one roof.

The Lewes History Museum opened to the public July 3. Anticipation brimmed as a large crowd gathered outside the old Lewes Public Library on Adams Avenue eager to be the first to see the new museum.

"The museum will illustrate and commemorate the amazing stories of Lewes, the people whose achievements Lewes has been built upon generation after generation," said Mayor Ted Becker. "It's truly a magnificent story, and one that isn't often told in many communities."

The museum occupies most of the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center, with a large permanent exhibit in the main space along with a smaller temporary exhibit room, a children's wing (to be completed this fall) and space for nonprofit organizations.

The entire second floor will be storage for the Lewes Historical Society's vast collection of artifacts, documents, photographs and other historic items.

"It's often said that the Smithsonian Institute is America's attic; well, it's pretty clear that this is Sussex County's attic," said Dick Carter, chairman of the Delaware Heritage Commission and a Sussex native who was born at Beebe Hospital.

"The work historical societies do is of utmost importance, especially today," he said. "I don't think there's been a time in history when it's ever been more important for Americans to understand who we are, where we came from and how we got here today."

Lewes Historical Society Executive Director Mike DiPaolo said he was humbled by the community support for the project, which came together in about six months. He gave special recognition to Randall and Margaret "Peggy" Hastings Rollins, who provided a $1 million donation toward the development of a cultural campus at the entrance of Lewes with the new museum and the neighboring Lewes Public Library.

"Their involvement and their commitment to this community is really unparalleled," DiPaolo said. "From [Beebe Healthcare's] nursing school to their support of the Lewes Public Library and other projects in town, this is just a testament to their love of Lewes and what this community can be."

Peggy Rollins is also a Sussex County native who was born in Beebe Hospital and graduated from Lewes High School.

The Lewes History Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. For more information, go to www.historiclewes.org.