Delaware lacked any units of the National Park system at one time. Apparently, no one could decide on one significant site in the state where a unit could be designated, so the Park Service found several sites already part of state or local authorities and tied them all together under the "First State National Historical Park" name. "First State" of course, refers to Delaware's role as the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787.

I visited a few of the sites, starting with the John Dickenson Plantation. Dickenson was a delegate to the Congress that approved Independence in July 1776. However, Dickinson did not approve and left Congress, refusing to sign the Declaration. He nonetheless, did enlist in the Continental Army to fight for that independence.

From the plantation, I drove the short distance into Dover, the state capital. Here I visited the old state house, where ratification of the Constitution would have been debated, and walked to the corner where the long-gone tavern stood, where the actual ratification vote took place.

I headed up to New Castle to visit the old armory (now a visitor center) and courthouse. The road by the armory was paved in extremely rugged cobblestones, limiting one's speed to about 5 mph.

Unfortunately, the day was getting late, and at least one of the remaining sites was not open, so I ended my trip around Delaware.