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You really know your Delaware history. Scroll down for the full story — and a few more facts most visitors never hear.
Here's the story: Dutch settlers arrived on these shores in 1631 and founded a whaling colony called Zwaanendael — making Lewes the very first European settlement in Delaware. More than 150 years later, in 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Put the two together, and Lewes proudly earned its famous nickname: The First Town in the First State.
3 More Facts Most Visitors Never Hear
💥 There's still a cannonball in a house downtown
During the War of 1812, the British bombarded Lewes — and one cannonball is still lodged in the foundation of the Cannonball House on Front Street. Today it's a maritime museum you can visit.
🐋 Lewes began as a whaling town
The original 1631 Dutch settlement, Zwaanendael ("Valley of the Swans"), was set up for whaling in the Delaware Bay. The Zwaanendael Museum on Savannah Road — built to look like a Dutch town hall — tells the whole story.
🚢 You can sail to another state for lunch
The Cape May–Lewes Ferry crosses the Delaware Bay in about 85 minutes, landing you in Victorian Cape May, New Jersey. Locals love the summer sunset crossings.
Come See the First Town in Person
The Inn at Lewes puts you minutes from historic Second Street, Cape Henlopen State Park, and Rehoboth Beach — with pet-friendly rooms, in-suite kitchenettes, and free parking. Summer savings of up to 15% are on now.