Installed to create a greater understanding of the historical relevance and significance of the people and events that have come to define the region and country, the monuments and memorials that surround the Dover Capital Complex are connected to various pieces of Dover history. These monuments serve as an imaginative way for audiences to experience and understand the history of the region and the legacy of the United States.
The Memorials and Monuments of Legislative Hall
Legislative Hall, located in downtown Dover, Delaware, replaced The Old State House as the capitol building of the state in 1933. The wide-open space in front of the west side of the building defines Legislative Mall, featuring the state’s replica of the Liberty Bell. It is also the host of many festivals and events as well as landmarks like the Delaware Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the Compass Rose. However, various other monuments define the space directly surrounding Legislative Hall.
A map of the memorials and monuments around Legislative Hall highlights the variety of these attractions. The most notable of them is the Delaware Continentals Statue, which celebrates the legacy of the state in a profound manner. The Dover Light Infantry Monument and Medal of Honor Monument are on either side of this statue. Nearby are the World War II Monument and the Middle East & Afghanistan Conflicts Monument.
On the other side of Legislative Hall, the Delaware Women’s Service Monument, Women’s Suffrage Centennial Monument and Delaware Police Memorial reside in the north section. The 9-11 Memorial Bench and the World War I Monument are on the opposite end, allowing audiences to experience a piece of local and national history on every side of the building.
While many of the monuments surrounding Legislative Hall are connected to events that took place in the formative years of the city and state, the actual monuments have only recently been installed, with the Delaware Continentals Statue being erected in 2008. This contemporary endeavor to celebrate the past in such an imaginative manner highlights what it can mean to cultivate engagement in a space that might otherwise be utilized or empty.
Engagement and Connection Across the Eras
An essential element of First State Park, the monuments and memorials of the Dover Capital Complex have connected audiences to the past and present of the city in a powerful way. Capitol and government complexes of all sizes reside in cities across the world but few utilize these spaces in such an imaginative way to create engagement with residents and visitors across the eras.
