Famous squares from around the world host everything from ice rinks to festivals, and with events that include parades, races and marathons, Rodney Square in Wilmington, Delaware, is no different. In become the symbolic center of Wilmington, Rodney Square had been able to provide space and scenery for a wide range of planned and casual activities. Doing so has enabled it to attract and appeal to both residents and tourists to create a positive cultural and economic impact on the entire city.
From “City Beautiful” to a Symbol of Delaware
Named after American Revolutionary leader Caesar Rodney, Rodney Square evolved out of the late 19th century “City Beautiful” movement which sought to improve social order by including more beauty in the urban landscape. Intended primarily for public use and completed in 1937, the square was designed to transform the location to unify the entire surrounding area and buildings.
The DuPont Building is the oldest of these buildings, but the Caesar Rodney Statue is the most notable landmark in the space. The statue commemorates Rodney’s ride from Dover to Philadelphia in 1776 to cast a tie-breaking vote that ensured Delaware’s support of the Declaration of Independence. The statue has become a symbol of Wilmington and Delaware as a whole, with the image appearing on the Delaware quarter in 1999.
Other notable buildings in the area include the Wilmington Public Building, the Wilmington Institute Free Library, and the Former Post Office, Court and Custom House. Similar to other former government buildings, these spaces have evolved and changed over time, and now serve much different functions. That hasn’t decreased their significance to the city and community, and is part of the reason that the entire area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 as the Rodney Square Historic District.
This historical significance is just part of the reason it has become a hub of the contemporary community.
The Heart of Wilmington
Rodney Square was designed to transform the space into a “single scheme of civic adornment”, and that vision saw it turn into a hub of the community that carries through to the present. Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, First Night Wilmington, the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Citizens Bank Caesar Rodney Half Marathon are just a few of the events that take place in Rodney Square, further signifying its status as the heart of Wilmington.
Additionally, season events like the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market at Rodney Square provide an incredible way for the community to come together on a regular basis. The Farmers Market has a history that stretches back to the early 1900s, but the move to Rodney Square allowed nearby downtown residents to walk to and participate in the market which saw it transform into a true public market. It offers an array of the freshest local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers, and attracts both residents and tourists.
The Rodney Square Conservancy is a partnership of area residents, local and state government, and businesses dedicated to the revitalization and preservation of the historic square for the benefit of the entire community and future generations. Their dedication to creating a future for the square that ensures a clean, safe, and friendly environment for the symbolic heart of Wilmington underscores what it can mean when a community fully embraces a monument like Rodney Square.
The impact that Rodney Square has had on the past and present of Wilmington is evident, but that impact is directly linked to the future of the space and the entire city.
Becoming More Beautiful, Attractive and Useful
In become the “heart of downtown Wilmington,” Rodney Square has been able to exemplify what it means for a monument to become part of a community, and the community has, in turn, recognized that importance. The Square will see improvements that include new masonry and paving, improved irrigation systems, upgraded lights and electrical system, lighted fountains, planters, benches and tables, trash and recycling collection bins, as well as new trees, shrubs and green areas.
This kind of commitment to seeing that Rodney Square becomes “more beautiful, attractive and useful” personifies how monuments can drive and enable positive changes for the present and future of an entire community and state.
