Delaware, the Small Wonder, the First State, certainly has its charms. We have miles of beaches, no sales tax, and some pretty great restaurants.
And it frequently gets shout-outs from its most famous resident who visits his houses in Greenville and Rehoboth Beach when he’s not in Washington, D.C.
“The state of Delaware has loved the Bidens and cheered for us in most of our triumphant moments,” said President Joe Biden during an April Commissioning Commemoration Ceremony of the USS Delaware.
“It has carried us through the darkest times in our lives with a kindness that asks for nothing in return.”
But, Delaware also has its, well, let’s just say quirks.
On Delaware Day, we thought it would be fun to look at some of the unique things or happenings in our state that we’d, lovingly, like to call Dela-weird.
Why & how we celebrate Delaware Day
Delaware Day commemorates the moment in 1787 when Delaware became the first colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
Since 2010, Sen. Chris Coons has been hosting a “Taste of Delaware” party in Washington, D.C. in the Russell Senate Office Building usually near or on Dec. 7 that showcases Delaware’s culinary scene and tourist attractions. This year’s event was Dec. 6.
The state also is marking the occasion with its Delaware Day Adventure contest, a challenge inspired by Small Wonder’s role in the founding of our nation, celebrated each year on Dec. 7.
Visitors who explore the five museums managed by the State of Delaware before Dec. 17 and submit photos of their visits may win a prize.
Participating museums include: New Castle Court House Museum, The Old State House, Johnson Victrola Museum, John Dickinson Plantation and Zwaanendael Museum,
Museum admission is free. For rules and all the small print, go to de.gov/delawareday
Don’t diss the Scrapple
You either love or loathe the loaf.
Scrapple, the regional breakfast meat made with pig parts not often talked about — like snouts, livers and hearts — a thick layer of cornmeal mush, and sprinkles of herbs and spices, is not for everyone.
But don’t stick your snout up at Scrapple.
It is beloved by much of the First State, the biggest producer of scrapple in the country, and there’s even a Scrapple Trail!
And you can always get a scrapple sub (really!) at the much-loved Helen’s Sausage House in Smyrna.
Fork it over:Don’t turn up your snout: Scrapple Trail celebrates love-it or loathe-it breakfast meat
What is that doing there?
You’re driving along somewhere in Delaware and you think, “Wait, what did I just see?”
“Why is this here?” is an occasional feature that looks at the history behind curious objects found throughout Delaware.
We’re here to answer your questions about the glass shards on a wall near Nemours Mansion, why there’s a bathtub in the roadway in Bellefonte, and what’s up with that giant propellor off Del. 1 near Milford that has been there since 1990 and has a connection to the Apollo 13 mission.
Dela-Weirdness:Why is this here? A series explaining quirky Delaware landmarks
How do you want your ‘rat?
Some call muskrat a taste of Delaware history, but others would rather have a Capriotti’s Bobbie or a slice of Grotto Pizza.
Still, seasonal muskrat dinners aren’t just relics from bygone days, and muskrat trapping is still going on in Delaware.
In New Castle County, the season runs from Dec. 1 through March 10, 2023, and from Dec. 15 to March 15 in Kent and Sussex counties.
We’ve tried the dark, earthy, heritage meat and think it has a brackish, fishy flavor that lingers like a house guest who has long overstayed his welcome.
The funky taste can be hard to get rid of both in the nose and on the tongue no matter how many glasses of water or pieces of bread you eat.
But we don’t want to yuck on someone’s yum. Give it a try. If you dare.
While the Wagon Wheel in Smyrna, one of the state’s best-known restaurants that served muskrat closed its doors for good in 2014, the Southern Grille in Ellendale offers a seasonal Muskrat Dinner for $17.95.
The ‘rat or marsh rabbit, as it’s sometimes called, is broiled and flash-fried. It’s served plain or smothered in gravy or BBQ sauce and comes with two sides. Bon appetit.
Don’t mention crudité …
Who’s the biggest name in the Wilmington Blue Rocks organization?
That’s easy.
There’s only one with a rabid fan following, two outdoor bars named after him, and is honored with his own section in the Frawley Stadium gift shop. Heck, there are even baseball jerseys available with his face plastered across them.
Is he a star prospect? A legendary alumnus? Perhaps the team’s founder? Strike one, two, three. You’re out!
It’s Mr. Celery, a celery stalk mascot with eyes, arms, legs and an open mouth that runs onto the field every time the Rocks score a run.
More:This is how Mr. Celery was born. And why he’s more popular than ever on his 21st birthday.
What happens on Return Day?
The hatchet was successfully buried once again recently at Sussex County Return Day in Georgetown, despite a few hints of discord.
Return Day, a uniquely Sussex County tradition, has been celebrated two days after Election Day for over 200 years. It’s only ever been canceled twice, during World War II (1942) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).
More:A sunny, peaceful Return Day in Sussex, with a dash of dissonance
10 iconic Delaware places to visit
Eleven concrete towers along the Sussex County coast form a somber contrast to the beach fun under their shadows.
They were installed during World War II to protect upriver industries from a Nazi invasion that thankfully never happened.
The towers were built quickly, 40 to 90 feet tall, and 17 feet wide. Over the decades, staircases have rusted, and sand and saltwater have weakened the structures.
But until recurring calls for restoration generate enough money and commitment, they remain silent and unused witnesses to war.
10 Iconic Destinations:New to Delaware, or ready to reconnect to the First State. 10 iconic places you should visit.
Hit the road, Delaware
Native Delawareans, new residents and First State tourists all can agree on one thing: Delaware has some very eccentric – and sometimes outlandish – traditions and happenings.
Part of those quirky pieces that make up the offbeat puzzle that is the Small Wonder includes the many oddities and more serious yet head-turning landmarks one can see on the road while traveling through the state.
Roadside oddities:Delaware road trip scavenger hunt: Can you spot all 11 roadside attractions around the state?
Some of us wear our love for Delaware on our sleeve
We already knew Delawareans had plenty of First State pride. For a small state, we certainly represent.
But when we spotted a Delaware tattoo recently, it got us thinking about what kinds of First State tats are out there.
We put out a call and nearly 40 Delawareans sent photos of their Delaware-themed tattoos, which range from basic state outlines to a detailed recreation of the old Dolle’s sign on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.
Skin Deeper:We asked to see your Delaware-themed tattoos. You didn’t let us down.
How’s your Delaware IQ?
For a state as small as Delaware, you might think there’s not much to discover in our (few) nooks and crannies.
But if you’ve been here long enough, you know that’s not true. And now there is proof ― in book form.
“Secret Delaware: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure” (Reedy Press, $27), a 184-page book by former Delaware Online/The News Journal reporters Rachel Kipp and Dan Shortridge, exposes 85 different bits of oddball First State history, unique places and some very down-home Delaware behaviors, like eating muskrat.
To Learn More:How Delaware are you? New book on the ‘secret’ First State may stump you
How Delaware are you?
Are you sick of the sideways looks when you tell people you’re not a Delaware native? Do you find yourself constantly teased by your friends for being a newcomer to the First State? Are you paranoid that you stick out as a tourist while visiting the beaches?
Then, look no further. Help is here.
Don’t Look Like a Tourist:How to become a true Delawarean: 10 ways you can distinguish yourself from the beach tourists
