What Delaware’s Major Cities Looked Like In The 1920s May Shock You. Dover Especially.

Delaware was quite different 90 years ago than it is today! The Roarin' Twenties were a time of economic prosperity, peace, political reform and of course, Jazz. American women first started to bob their hair to fit into cloche hats, American men ditched the tailcoats and started wearing shorter, more modern jackets. The first skyscrapers were built in major cities, and modern buildings began popping up on every city block. Who wouldn't want to take a trip back in time to see what the First State looked like at this time? How did 1920s Delaware differ from 2010s Delaware? Luckily, the Delaware Public Archives have released dozens and dozens of photographs of Delaware cities in the 1920s, so let's take a trip back in time to the following 10 cities.

1. Seaford

Seaford was a growing town of between 2200-2500 citizens in the 1920s, but it still held on to its colonial roots despite rapid growth. Here you can see the Old Wright House in 1926 standing tall.

2. Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach almost looks the same - swimmers playing in the waves on a hot summer day. The attire was a little different, though!

Rehoboth Beach in 1925 - look at the boardwalk! No Kohr Brothers?!

3. Bethany Beach

Bathers splashing in the surf along Bethany Beach... even though this picture was taken in 1925, it gives you the feeling that some things never change.

4. Bowers

Holy Cow! I thought that there were a lot of Horseshoe Crabs around NOW. Look how far the pile goes back. It seems like it's neverending!

5. Wilmington

Downtown Wilmington in 1925. It looks so... calm.

City Hall in Wilmington is now a gigantic building on the corner of French St. and 8th St. It looks nothing like it did here, in 1925.

Old Swedes is a Wilmington Landmark. It's been around forever - since 1699 - and will remain in Wilmington until the end of times. Here it is in 1925 - 226 years old. It doesn't look a day over 225!

6. Milford

This house in Milford looks like it would still fit in, even though this picture was taken in 1928.

I'd love to take a stroll down this 1928 Milford Street. I wonder what oddities I'd find in the shops!

7. Smyrna

Woodlawn will always be gorgeous. The photograph was taken in 1926, 56 years before the mansion would be on the National List of Historic Places Registry.

8. Odessa

Old Drawyers Church still stands in what is now considered Middletown, but it looks slightly different than it did in 1925! For one, the brick walls are no longer covered in Ivy!

9. Newark

Let's be honest, you knew this was UD before even reading the caption. Luckily, the University has preseved a lot of its history, and Wolfe Hall actually still looks exactly like it did in this 1925 photograph.

This beautiful library, however,no longer exists. I wonder what the most popular books were in 1925!

10. Dover

This 1928 Dover Home belonged to W.J. Benson.

Here's another Dover home on State Street. This one belonged to James F. Allee Jr.

These "Better Homes" exhibits took over the Armory in Dover in 1924.

The Dover Post Office in 1929. It's so interesting to see how much the whole area has changed!

The Dover State House in 1926 after a snow storm. Unlike the Post Office, this area hasn't really changed all that much in 90 years. How cool is that?

These photographs really take you back in time. How wonderful it is that Delaware's history is so well preserved!