TOP 30 Old town hall historical exhibits in Wilmington, Delaware

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Old Town Hall, located at 512 North Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware, is a historic museum and tourist attraction. Built in 1798, this Federal-style building served as a center for political and social activities for almost a century. It hosted elections, town meetings, a subscription library, and even criminal and civil trials in its unheated basement cells. Throughout its history, Old Town Hall welcomed notable figures such as the Marquis de Lafayette and President Andrew Jackson. It was also the site of the observance of George Washington's death in 1799 and Henry Clay's lying in state in 1852. The building was purchased by the Delaware Historical Society in 1917 and fully restored by 1927. The original bronze bell that once hung in the cupola of Old Town Hall is now located across the street. This bell, purchased by Joseph Tatnall in 1800, was used to strike the hour, sound fire alarms, and mark public celebrations or mourning. The bell was donated to the Delaware Historical Society in 1933.