Walk Down Memory Lane at Delaware Public Archives

New lobby exhibit celebrates “things that aren’t there anymore”

Do you remember rocking at the Stone Balloon; enjoying a muskrat meal at The Wagon Wheel; or having a shopping spree at Wanamaker’s?  If you don’t the Delaware Public Archives does.
Starting in April 2024, the DPA will kick off a celebration and remembrance of things that aren’t there anymore with a new exhibit in their Lobby Galleries, “Memory Lane”.

The exhibit contains 75 rare newly digital and restored photos of things, events, and places in The First State that no longer exist including beloved businesses, restaurants, theaters, festivals, and parks. Visitors to the Lobby Galleries at the Archives can view a five-minute informative video, read additional interesting historical facts, and receive a free 16-page full-color booklet packed with photos and First State trivia.

“This new exhibit shares images of things like Gino’s Hamburgers, S & H Green Stamps, Wilmington Dry Goods, and the Delaware landmark, The Dinner Bell Inn,” said Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Delaware Public Archives Director. “For most of us longer-term Delawareans, these may be distant memories, but with this exhibit, we hope to trigger some long-forgotten fond memories with their nostalgic look at times gone by, and to share the stories of these “local legends” with our newer residents.”

This new “Memory Lane” exhibit is based on the extremely popular Delaware Public Archives social media feature of the same name found on the DPA’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dover, DE 19901, and is open from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

To view/download a copy of the booklet, click here.

Find out more about the Delaware Public Archives here.