Wilmington: “A Place To Be Somebody”

Greetings to one and all!

You might think that it's a bit late in the game to be introducing myself on this blog, but I actually just started my internship with the Delaware Humanities Forum on Monday. (For the first five weeks of the summer I was teaching a history course at UD.) The DHF promotes the humanities by connecting the people of Delaware with humanities specialists and creating a network of civic, educational and cultural institutions. The organization provides a variety of resources, including grants to nonprofit organizations and public programs, and is supported principally by an annual grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This summer I'll be working on creating a walking tour of Wilmington, the largest city in Delaware. We're not sure yet what the final product will be but we do know that we want to help people who spend time in Wilmington discover the city's history and cultural heritage. Our goal is to reach out to residents and weekday workers as well as tourists.

When I first discussed the project with DHF director Marilyn Whittington, we envisioned a tour that would focus on Wilmington's monuments and memorials. Monuments exist to commemorate the people and events that we consider (or once considered) significant for understanding our identity. Yet often we become so used to monuments as fixtures on our landscape that we don't even think about who or what they represent. How many times have you walked past a statue without noticing it? If someone stopped and asked you who it depicted, you might be able to say, "Oh, that's so-and-so." But could you explain what "so-and-so" did to be memorialized in such a way? Organizations and individuals in Wilmington have already created a landscape of memory with monuments, plaques, and street names. The purpose of the tour is to direct our attention to these memorials and deepen our understanding of the place that is Wilmington.

As I develop the tour, I would like to use this blog to introduce you to some of the city's monuments. Perhaps more than any other monument, the equestrian statue of Caesar Rodney (above) symbolizes Wilmington. Dedicated on July 4, 1923, the statue was designed by New York sculptor James Edward Kelly. The statue is somewhat unique in that it depicts the horse in full gallop, with its two front legs in the air. To balance the figure, Kelly heavily weighted the horse's tail and placed Rodney slightly to the rear of the horse's forward rear hoof. The overall effect is one of motion. Unlike most other equestrian statues, the monument does not celebrate the accomplishments of a general, king, or president, but rather an event: Rodney's ride from Dover to Philadelphia to cast Delaware's vote for the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The historical record calls into question the accuracy of this account. Rather than galloping into Philadelphia at the last minute, Rodney may have been there for several days prior to July 4. Moreover, he may not have arrived there on horseback at all. The goal of the patriotic group of citizens who erected the statue was not to realistically depict the event, but rather to celebrate the critical role that their state played in the founding of America. As Delaware poet George Alfred Townsend wrote, "Here this day is made a nation, By the help of Delaware."

At this point, I'm still settling into the office and getting acquainted with Wilmington. Although I've lived in Delaware for three years now, I haven't spent that much time in the city. I'm enjoying discovering its history on walks and in books. I am also very excited about the prospect of collaborating with many longtime advocates of the city's history, including the generous staff of the Delaware Historical Society. It is very clear that many people are interested in rejuvenating Wilmington and ensuring its future as "A Place to Be Somebody."

As a Massachusetts native, I'm not as familiar with this area as many of you may be. So here are two questions for you:

1. What would you like to see included on a tour of Wilmington?


2. What format do you think would be best for encouraging people to take the tour? A website? Printed map?

I looking forward to sharing more as my internship experience continues.

Best, Anne

For further reading: Robert T. Silver, Outdoor Sculpture in Wilmington (Wilmington Arts Commission, 1987)

Photograph Credit: Anne Reilly