About this city
New Castle is a historically rich city located in northern New Castle County, Delaware, positioned along the Delaware River just six miles south of Wilmington. Founded by the Dutch West India Company in 1651 as Fort Casimir, it changed flags between the Dutch, Swedes, and English before serving as Delaware's colonial capital and its first state capital until 1777. The city boasts the second-largest concentration of authentic colonial-era buildings in the United States, second only to Williamsburg. Its geography features a beautiful historic cobblestone core arranged around a central colonial Green, bounded by riverside parklands that offer sweeping views of the Delaware River and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
Location & Administrative
Transportation & Accessibility
Weather & Timing
Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Stroll the cobblestone streets of the New Castle Historic District, tour the Old New Castle Court House Museum, picnic along the riverfront at Battery Park, and walk the scenic paths of the Jack A. Markell Trail.
Must-See
Museums & Culture
5
Read House & Gardens
Amstel House Museum
New Castle Court House Museum
Dutch House Museum
