Sheriff’s House Reopens as Welcome Center for First State National Historical Park

This month, the Sheriff’s House at First State National Historical Park opened to the public after undergoing a rehabilitation effort.

The $5.4M restoration transformed the building—a contributing feature to the New Castle National Historic Landmark Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—into a welcome center and orientation hub for the park’s seven sites located throughout Delaware. Visitors will benefit from the new interpretation that showcases the stories that shaped the first state—and weaves all seven sites together—through photos, exhibits, and audio-visual displays. From the Sheriff’s House, visitors are directed to visit the other sites for a deeper understanding of each place.

The project included accessibility improvements, exterior stone repair and repointing, full interior restoration, new exhibits, and utility improvements. In addition to the new public spaces, the building’s second floor was renovated into office space for National Park Service (NPS) staff.

“Through a thoughtful rehabilitation effort, the Sheriff’s House has gone from an unused, yet significant historic structure, to a new visitor center that is the centerpiece of First State National Historical Park. We’re thankful for the opportunity to work closely with the National Park Service to complete this important project” said GWWO Principal John Gregg, AIA, VMA LEED AP.

The Sheriff’s House, constructed in 1857, served as the home of the New Castle County Sheriff and the administrative site for the attached prison until it closed in 1902. Many tenants followed, including the Baldt Steel Company, New Castle Club, and the New Castle Police, before the building was donated to the NPS in 2013. First State National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation in 2013 and re-designated as a National Historical Park in 2014.

Images courtesy of REILLY Construction.