Historical Society of Delaware - Every Picture Tells a Story Exhibition

at the
Delaware History Museum
March 7 through April 20, 1998
NOTE: This exhibit is CLOSED. For reference only.

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Humans are a fickle lot. We are never satisfied with our environment. We constantly think of new ways to meet ever-changing needs. The landscape of Wilmington is a prime example, having metamorphosized itself from the 19th century milling town to 20th century corporate capital.

Luckily, photography allows us to see change over time, and is the theme which is explored in Every Picture Tells a Story. The exhibit uses black-and-white photographs to chronicle the history of downtown Market Street, beginning with a bird's eye view of Wilmington in 1865, then moving across the waterfront up Market Street to Rodney Square. Each block is focused on individually, allowing visitors to compare today's landscape against that of decades and centuries past. Historic objects and colorful advertising cards from the merchants and hoteliers of Market Street offer a three-dimensional perspective as well.