Rehoboth historical society walking tours step off June 2

The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society announced its walking tours will return at 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 2, starting at the Bandstand.

After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, historical tour guide Jean Brolund is back and ready to take guests on a tour of downtown Rehoboth Beach.

Brolund has been doing these tours for the Rehoboth Beach Museum for more than five years. She combines her knowledge of the ever-changing history of Rehoboth Beach with her personal memories. Brolund summered in Rehoboth Beach beginning in 1958 and lived in a tent house during that time. After she moved to the area permanently in 2012, she joined the museum and supplemented her personal knowledge from its archives.

This historical tour provides general information about the history of Rehoboth Beach and the changing streetscape of buildings over the years, both businesses and residential. Brolund will lead walkers from the Bandstand along Rehoboth Avenue, pointing out landmarks and providing photos of historical sites and events. While touching on several of the storms that have shaped the coastline and the beachfront in town, other topics covered will be the indigenous peoples of the area, the Methodist camp meetings, hotels and railroad service, and Horn’s Pavilion. Other topics on the tour may include shipwrecks, naming ships such as the Falmouth, the Merrimac, the Severn and the SS Thomas Tracy, restaurants such as the Robert Lee, Snyder’s and, of course, Funland.

The tour is a gentle two-hour stroll around downtown Rehoboth Beach. Tour participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water or fill up a water bottle at the historic Women’s Christian Temperance Union Fountain on the Boardwalk; one of the landmarks mentioned on the tour. There are restrooms available at the Bandstand area.

The cost of the tour is $10 cash, given to the tour guide. The society suggests attending tours in bubbles of family members or groups of between five to 10 people. Call the Rehoboth Beach Museum at 302-227-7310 to make a reservation. Brolund is also willing to give private tours with a minimum of six people. These private tours can be booked through the museum.

For more information, go to rehobothbeachmuseum.org.