Delaware Historical Society

When Old Town Hall was built in 1798 it was one of the tallest buildings in Wilmington. For almost a century it functioned as both a center of political and social activities. Styled after Philadelphia’s Congress Hall, this handsome Federal-style structure served the city until 1916 hosting elections, town meetings, a subscription library, and criminal and civil trials. Old Town Hall hosted receptions and dinners for notables such as the Marquis de Lafayette and President Andrew Jackson. The death of George Washington was observed in Old Town Hall in 1799 and Henry Clay’s body laid in state there in 1852. The Historical Society of Delaware (now the Delaware Historical Society) purchased the building in 1917 and completed its restoration by 1927. It now serves as a temporary exhibit space, a space for performances, and a space for events and rentals.