"Helping slaves to regain freedom ... in the state of Delaware is a crime next to that of murder, if committed by a colored man," wrote Samuel D. Burris in 1847. He himself had committed that offense -- willingly, deliberately and repeatedly -- in spite of knowing the penalty. Such was his determination to help slaves escape their bondage. Burris was particularly vulnerable, as the punishment for an African-American caught aiding and abetting runaway slaves was harsh indeed. And he nearly paid that price. This Free Man of Color was captured, imprisoned and convicted for the crime of which he spoke. And he himself, although born free, was sold into slavery for a period of seven years as a consequence. Burris was not abandoned by his Pennsylvania Antislavery Society friends, however. Posing as a southern buyer, Isaac A. Flint "purchased" Burris with abolition gold. Although he could never return to the State of Maryland, Samuel D. Burris lived the remainder of his life as free as the day he was born.

Delaware produced many such selfless people, and, indeed, it sought freedom itself: Its colonial and first State Assembly met on June 15, 1776 to pass a resolution to separate not only from Great Britain, but also from Pennsylvania, creating the State of Delaware. On September 20, 1776, the first Constitution for the Delaware State was adopted.

This small state has 12,000 years worth of archaeological history, with artifacts dating from the last ice age in North America to the 20th century. These range from projectile points ("arrowheads" or "spear points"), ceramics and other stone and bone tools, to glass and personal objects used in Delaware during the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. With such deep roots one can almost feel the history in the very air.