February 24, 2015

Our day started with a hearty breakfast at the Countrie Eatery.  Breakfast is served all day there so there is no indication of what time our day started is there?
Looking out the window of the Countrie Eatery onto Silver Lake revealed a sign of Spring. Ducks were flying North for the Summer season.

The Mallards were anxious to get an early start and the opportunity to warm up a bit. 

Notice Silver Lake is frozen over.

Today was the halfway point for visiting State Capitols.  Delaware is unique in that it was the first state to ratify the Constitution.  This is the front of the current Capitol building however it wasn't built until 1933.

New Castle Delaware was the location of the first Capitol but was later relocated to Dover in 1777.
The First State House was completed in 1791.  At that time there were 21 members of the House and 11 in the Senate.  The building has been renovated but only serves as part of the Heritage Park

The Senate chamber of the Old State House.  The painting of Washington up front was done to accommodate his full height of 6 feet 2 inches

Grammie decided to take matters into her own hands and wielded the gavel...if only for a brief moment.

The reception room of the current Governor, Jack Markell.

I mentioned before that the current State Capitol building (better known as Legislative Hall) wasn't completed until 1933. Before that, the Old Capitol building was used when completed in 1791.  Now for a little embellishment.  Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.  

When the Capitol was transferred to Dover in 1777, there was no building to conduct the states business.  From then until 1791, the assembly conducted business in Battell's Tavern better known as the Golden Fleece Tavern.  Thirty elected representatives established Delaware as the first state when they ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787, 5 days prior to Pennsylvania.

I should note that the Golden Fleece Tavern no longer exists but this marker is located on the outer wall closest to the actual location of where it did exist.  Please do not confuse it with another Golden Fleece Tavern that does exist in Dover today.   Golden Fleece Tavern.  

Tomorrow off to Annapolis for another visit to a State Capitol.