Zwaanendael Museum

The Zwaanendael Museum, located at 102 Kings Highway in Lewes, Delaware, is a museum and tourist attraction that showcases the history and stories of the Black American experience at Delaware’s segregated beaches during the Jim Crow era. The museum was built in commemoration of Delaware’s first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch in 1631, and serves as a showcase for the Lewes area’s maritime, military, and social history.

Visitors can participate in the “Recapturing Black Beaches” oral history initiative if they are inspired by the exhibit. The museum offers street parking in downtown Lewes within walking distance, and the first floor is wheelchair accessible. Restrooms are not available at the museum, so visitors are advised to use facilities prior to arrival.

Tours at the Zwaanendael Museum are self-guided, but museum staff are available to answer questions and provide additional information. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Delaware Digital History Museum, like the museum on Facebook, and follow on Instagram. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.