"The First State"

Welcome to Delaware

Delaware/Pennsylvania border on I-95
May 19, 2006

There's something to be said about being first. Delaware sure prides itself on being the first state to ratify the Constitution in 1787. So much so that the state's nickname is "The First State" and it is present on the license plate as well as its statehood date on the state flag. Aside from being state to join the United States, there isn't much else to say about Delaware. Being the second smallest in area behind Rhode Island, it is fairly easy to overlook on a map, nestled next to Maryland. I will say it pretends to be a big state, since I was charged about the same toll to use the 26 miles of I-95 that I was for over 100 miles on the New Jersey turnpike. Kidding aside, the state has some beautiful shoreline and surprisingly dense foliage along DE-1.

This sign was not easy to get. Located in the middle of an interstate split between I-95 and I-495, traffic was heavy heading out of Philadelphia. Even though I wanted I-95, I had to use the I-495 ramp to take this picture, since there was less traffic on the ramp, as well as a better angle. If it wasn't for the little "button" on the upper right, this sign would be fairly dull. As a writer, I should applaud the use of the period at the end of "Welcome to Delaware." but it seems out of place. I like the slogan, but the sign needs something else to spice it up a little more.

Welcome to Dover

November 4, 2007

If you asked for one word to describe Dover, I would have to use "bricks." Dover loves bricks. In the area around the capitol, everything in sight is made of bricks: the buildings, the sidewalks and even the streets. It has a nice effect visually, but must be expensive to maintain brick sidewalks and streets. The rest of the town is mostly brick-phobic and resembles any small town in America: only a few main streets and mostly small stores in the downtown area. It just lacks the buzz and the feel of a big city like Wilmington, but maybe that was the idea. The town was literally closed for business when I visited on a Sunday afternoon, as I only saw one store open. Getting down to Dover from Pennsylvania is a pain, since the only option is DE-1, which seemed to have tollbooths every 15 miles asking for another $3.

Delaware's capitol building is incredibly small and could easily be mistaken for a church with its steeple (it actually reminded me of the Old North Church in Boston the first time I saw it). It really has the look of an old colonial meeting hall, despite being built in the 20th century (the original Delaware state house is now a museum). I guess I don't see how a House and a Senate could meet inside at the same time, although combined they only have 62 members. Keeping with the town's motif, it has a nice brick exterior and large bay windows. For some reason, the front of the building faces away from the grass mall that features other state office buildings in the plaza. As a result of this interesting configuration, I mistook the rear of the building as the front when I had previously visited Dover on May 19, 2006.

Miscellaneous Delaware Symbols

State Route Sign

License Plate

Seal

Quarter