Ryves Holt House
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Cool historic house, small, free to tour, also serves as a welcome center to Lewes. They have an info counter & shop of sorts in the entryway, then a little circular "tour route" through the ground floor of the house off to the right. They gave us a guide for this but I really would have been better off just reading the signs, there were plenty and the space was small enough (the house is from the 1600s!) that adding another person to the group felt crowded. The exhibits focus on the life of War of 1812 naval hero Jacob Jones who commanded USS Wasp - and also lived in this house as a child. The exhibits were informative. I would have liked to see more on the architecture of the house, since they did have portions of the wall partially opened so you could see the multiple layers of construction done throughout the past 300+ years. Overall this was a great quick stop on our walk from the Lewes Historical Society's Lewes Maritime Museum at Cannonball House down to the Lewes Historical Society Main Campus off Shipcarpenter Street. I recommend sticking your head in here for a few minutes if on foot or just arriving in Lewes and looking for a place to start your adventure.
Evan DwyerEvan Dwyer
00
This museum is on the right side and the Gallery store is to the left side for shopping when you enter the building. A wonderful couple of gentlemen explained about the building and the owners that occupied it. The more famous one will be Jacob Jones. You may have not heard about him, but from a Naval perspective, there is a lot of historic value. Checkout how it was constructed as it is unique. They used cotton as an installation which is still there in the walls. If you are looking for the First State Passport stamp while hitting the trail, they no longer have it. Due to them not owning the house AND the land, they took away the stamp and designation 🤬
Daniel GroveDaniel Grove
00
Well the house would be cool if there was actual an display or exhibits or anything resembling a natl historic park besides a stamp and the brochure. The oldest house on it's original foundation in Delaware deserves a little better. The very nice volunteer seemed more interested in rushing us out and getting us to the local Lewes museum.
yolanda alejandreyolanda alejandre
00
Nearby Attractions Of Ryves Holt House
Dogfish Inn
Lloyd's Market
Zwaanendael Museum
The Lewes Historical Society Main Campus
Hotel Blue
Lightship Overfalls LV-118
Historic Lewes Farmers Market
Lewes Public Library
Quest Kayak
Stango Park

Dogfish Inn
4.9
(262)Click for details

Lloyd's Market
4.6
(196)Click for details

Zwaanendael Museum
4.5
(143)Click for details

The Lewes Historical Society Main Campus
4.8
(132)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Ryves Holt House
Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant
Touch of Italy
Agave Mexican Restaurant
Honeys Farm Fresh Gourmet Kitchen Breakfast&Lunch
Wheelhouse
Striper Bites
Nectar Cafe & Juice Bar
Lewes Bake Shoppe & Notting Hill Coffee Roastery
Lewes Oyster House
Pig & Publican

Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant
4.4
(904)Click for details

Touch of Italy
4.6
(573)Click for details

Agave Mexican Restaurant
4.4
(915)Click for details

Honeys Farm Fresh Gourmet Kitchen Breakfast&Lunch
4.6
(542)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
218 2nd St, Lewes, DE 19958
Map
Phone
(302) 645-7670
Call
Website
historiclewes.org
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.5
(30 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Ryves Holt House is purportedly the oldest surviving house in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is located at 218 Second Street in Lewes, Delaware. The building, which has been dated to 1665 using dendrochronology, served as one of the earliest inns in the region.
attractions: Dogfish Inn, Lloyd's Market, Zwaanendael Museum, The Lewes Historical Society Main Campus, Hotel Blue, Lightship Overfalls LV-118, Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Lewes Public Library, Quest Kayak, Stango Park, restaurants: Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant, Touch of Italy, Agave Mexican Restaurant, Honeys Farm Fresh Gourmet Kitchen Breakfast&Lunch, Wheelhouse, Striper Bites, Nectar Cafe & Juice Bar, Lewes Bake Shoppe & Notting Hill Coffee Roastery, Lewes Oyster House, Pig & Publican
