First State Passport Stamps

How many stamps can YOU collect at First State NHP?

What are Passport stamps?

Passport stamps are a fun way to remember your visit to First State NHP and other national parks! Started in 1986 by park partner America’s National Parks, the program allows visitors to "Put a stamp on every national park experience." In addition, it helps visitors "Take only pictures, leave only footprints" by providing a souvenir to take home.

Each national park site has at least one cancellation stamp. These stamps are circular with the name of the park and the date of your visit.

The country is divided into nine regions, and each region is assigned a specific color. First State NHP is in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Our park stamps use blue ink to match placement in the blue section of the official Passport book.

 

Fun Fact

The color of the ink pad generally corresponds to the color of the region!

 

What stamps are available?

1. Brandywine Valley
   • Location: Brandywine Creek State Park Nature Center (41 Adams Dam Road, Wilmington, DE 19803
2. Fort Christina
   • Location: Copeland Maritime Center (1124 E. 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19803)
3. Old Swedes Church
   • Location: Old Swedes Historic Site (606 North Church Street, Wilmington, DE 19801)
   • Click here to make your reservation.
4. New Castle Court House
   • Location: New Castle Court House Museum (211 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720)
5. First State NHP - Junior Ranger
   • Location: Sheriff's House Welcome Center (10 Market Street, New Castle, DE 19720)
6. First State NHP - NPS Centennial 2016 - 2016
   • Location: Sheriff's House Welcome Center (10 Market Street, New Castle, DE 19720)
7. The Green - New Castle
   • Location: The Arsenal (30 Market Street, New Castle, DE 19720)
8. The Green - Dover
   • Location: The Old State House (25 The Green, Dover, DE 19901)
9. John Dickinson Plantation
   • Location: John Dickinson Plantation (340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover, DE 19901)

 

Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Stamps

• Fort Christina: "the rocks" was used by Freedom Seekers who arrived and departed by ship.
• New Castle Court House: site of the trial of Thomas Garrett and John Hunn, who were convicted of working as stationmasters on the Underground Railroad in violation of the Fugitive Slave Act.
• Old State House: site of the trail of Samuel Burris, a conductor of the Underground Railroad and a free black man who risked his own freedom to lead enslaved people through Delaware into Pennsylvania.
• John Dickinson Plantation: one of the largest plantations in Delaware, once home to about sixty slaves. After inheriting the property from his father, John Dickinson granted his slaves full freedom in 1785 as a result of Quaker beliefs.

Learn more about the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

 

How can I get a stamp if the Passport stamp location is closed?

If stamp access is unavailable, please contact the park, and we can send you one or more stamps through the mail. Be sure to include the following information in your request:

1. Your name
2. Mailing address
3. Which Passport stamp cancellations you are requesting
4. Specific dates needed for each stamp

Do I have to have a Passport book to get a stamp?

NO!
You can stamp anything you'd like. People like to stamp:

• Park brochures
• Travel journals
• Postcards
• Scrapbooks
• Books purchased in the park store
• Junior Ranger books and certificates

If you've forgotten your Passport book, don't worry! You can stamp a spare sheet of paper. Put your stamp in your Passport book when you get home.