Delaware State Museum Buildings

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Delaware State Museum Buildings, also known as the Old Presbyterian Church Complex, is a historic museum complex in Dover, Delaware. Located on Meeting House Square, the block is bounded by Governors Avenue, Bank Lane, North Street, and New Street, and covers about 2.6 acres. The four buildings are the Old Presbyterian Church (1790), a brick chapel (1880), a brick gas plant office building, and the Eldridge Reeves Johnson Memorial Building (Georgian). The Johnson Victrola Museum is housed in the Johnson Memorial Building.

Old Presbyterian Church: Built in 1790, this two-story, three-bay square brick building is an early Federal-style meeting house. It has an attic and a belfry that originally had an octagonal cupola, which was removed in the 19th century and later restored. The interior features preserved paneling, a distinctive staircase, and a spacious gallery. The adjacent churchyard buries notable Delawareans such as John M. Clayton and Colonel John Haslet. The church served as the first congregation of its denomination in Kent County for many years and hosted early state constitutional conventions.

Building No. 2 (brick chapel): Built in 1880, its exterior and Gothic interior have remained well preserved.

Building No. 3 (gas plant office): A late 19th-century, one-story brick building that stands separately within the complex.

Building No. 4 (Johnson Memorial Building): A Georgian-style building that houses the Johnson Victrola Museum, which focuses on the history of sound recording and the Victor Talking Machine Company.

National Register: The Delaware State Museum Buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1972 (reference number 72000278).

History and surroundings: The gas works on the site were demolished around 1955, helping revitalize the surrounding neighborhood. A city police headquarters is nearby, and a Federal Building was planned across the street.

Overall: The four buildings together offer exhibits about Delaware life and history and attract thousands of visitors each year.