Georgetown Historical Society 

The Georgetown Historical Society preserves and interprets the history of Georgetown, the county seat of Sussex County. Founded in the late 1960s, the society has spent decades collecting artifacts, restoring historic structures, and telling the story of a town that was quite literally designed to be the center of local government.

Quick Facts

• Founded: 1968
• Location: Georgetown, Delaware
• Key Site: Marvel Carriage Museum
• Focus: Local history, transportation, agriculture, civic life

A Town Built Around a Circle (1791)

Georgetown itself was established in 1791 after Sussex County leaders sought a more central location for government than coastal Lewes. The solution was both practical and distinctive: a circular town plan.

At the center sits The Circle, a rare urban design feature in the United States. Surrounding it are key civic buildings, including the Sussex County Courthouse, which has served as the county’s judicial hub since the late 18th century (with later reconstructions and updates over time).

This layout made Georgetown a natural focal point for legal, political, and commercial activity in southern Delaware.

The Georgetown Historical Society’s Role

The Georgetown Historical Society was formally organized in 1968, with a mission to preserve the town’s heritage and educate the public. Over the years, the organization has:

• Collected artifacts related to Sussex County life
• Preserved historic buildings and structures
• Interpreted transportation, agriculture, and civic history
• Hosted educational programs and community events

Its work ensures that Georgetown’s story—often overshadowed by coastal tourism towns—remains accessible and well-documented.

The Marvel Carriage Museum

The society’s most visible asset is the Marvel Carriage Museum, located just outside the town center.

The museum houses one of the region’s most impressive collections of:

• Horse-drawn carriages
• Sleighs and wagons
• Early transportation equipment
• Agricultural implements

Many of these vehicles date to the 19th and early 20th centuries, offering a clear look at how people traveled and worked before the automobile era.

The collection emphasizes practical life in Sussex County—farming, trade, and everyday mobility—rather than purely decorative or elite vehicles.

Sussex County History in Context

Georgetown’s history reflects broader themes in southern Delaware:

• Agriculture as the backbone of the local economy
• Transportation evolution from horse-drawn vehicles to rail and automobiles
• Government centralization in a rural region
• Community life built around courthouse activity and market days

Unlike Wilmington’s industrial story or New Castle’s colonial prominence, Georgetown represents the working heart of rural Delaware.

Why It Matters

The Georgetown Historical Society helps preserve a different side of Delaware history—one that is:

• Less industrial than Wilmington
• Less aristocratic than du Pont estates
• Less tourism-driven than the beaches

Instead, it focuses on everyday life, local governance, and rural development.

That makes it a strong addition to your statewide content network, especially when paired with:

• Dover’s Legislative Mall (state-level government)
• Historic New Castle (colonial governance)
• Sussex County communities (agricultural history)

A Different Kind of Delaware Story

If northern Delaware tells the story of industry and wealth, and coastal Delaware tells the story of tourism, Georgetown tells the story of how people actually lived and worked in between.

And sometimes, the everyday story is the one that lasts the longest.