Plan Your Visit

Odessa Sidewalk with Flag

Hours

Historic Odessa is open to the public March through December; Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm, Sunday 1-4pm
The last tour begins at 3pm.

The property is closed January and February, Mondays, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Gardens & Grounds

Interactive Map

The grounds of the Historic Odessa Foundation encompass approximately 30 acres of property in the historic center of town.
The Bank

Accessibility

The Visitor Center for the Historic Odessa is located on the main floor of The Odessa Bank c. 1855 and houses special exhibits, information center, and accessible restrooms. Visitors are ticketed and leave on guided tours from this location. The Visitors Center and Cantwell's Tavern are fully accessible. The Corbit-Sharp House, Collins-Sharp House and Wilson-Warner Houses are partially accessible.

Two young boys wearing caps

Family Tours

Explore the past together, as a family! All children in the group will be given a haversack containing a spyglass, slate and slate pencil, fire starter kit, and a Bilbo catcher. In addition, activities include age-appropriate school lessons, a copy of “Rules for Behavior in Company,” and a Corbit-Sharp House scavenger hunt.
Schedule your group tour now at Historic Odessa

Group Tours

Guided group tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday: 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, and Sunday 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM by prepaid reservation only.
authentic and interactive 18th century setting for school children

School Tours

Would you like to take your class back in time to the 18th century? Although designed specifically with Delaware teachers in mind, our programs are broad enough to accommodate schools from other states, home-schoolers, youth organizations and summer camps.
Freedom-Seekers-the_odessa-story exhibit

Freedom Seekers: The Odessa Story

In the period between 1830 and 1860, the population of the State of Delaware struggled, internally, between powerful slave interests and defiant and very vocal anti-slavery groups. Slavery was not abolished in Delaware until the end of the Civil War, yet Delawareans voluntarily manumitted a greater percentage of their slaves than most other northerners. In addition, Delaware, and specifically the Middletown/Odessa area, had a large and dedicated population of Quaker and Methodists who were calling for an end to the institution of slavery.
Cantwell's Tavern on Main Street

Cantwell's Tavern

The Cantwell's Bridge Hotel and Tavern was built by prominent businessman, William Polk, in 1822 and was operated as such for the next 100 years. The simple, clean, classic Federal lines denote a sophisticated style rather than that of a "country" inn typical of small towns. Merchants, ship captains, and visitors to the busy port town of Cantwell's Bridge would have found comfort in the accommodations offered at this fine establishment.

Plan Your Visit

From the Collection

1958.3252 andirons

Andirons

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp
1785-1810
Search our Museum Collection
Atlas of the State of Delaware of 1868

Pomeroy and Beers atlas c.1868

The firm of Pomeroy and Beers produced an atlas in 1868 called the Atlas of the State of Delaware. It was the first atlas ever published of the State of Delaware. The multi-page atlas included counties, major towns and cities including Odessa, DE.
National underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman underground railroad
Delaware history Trail
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Delaware 250 logo