Here’s a Glimpse of What American Life Used to Be

one of the longest twin spans suspension bridges in the world the Delaware Memorial Bridge is dedicated to soldiers who gave their lives overseas the first span opened in 1952 followed by the second in 1968 just a few miles southwest of the bridge the bustling modernity disappears mmm estates rich colonial past is revealed the 17th century town of Newcastle is home to 5,000 people its historic district spans three and a half square miles land first settled by Peter Stuyvesant in 1651 and then fought over by the Dutch Swedes and the British who eventually won here in 1682 William Penn the proprietor of Pennsylvania first set foot on American soil today a statue stands in his honor on the old village green in the 18th century the Old Courthouse in New Castle served as the colonial capital and it was here that the Declaration of Independence was read George Reid jr. the son of one of the declarations signers built this 22-room home in 1801 intending it to be the largest home in Delaware the Reid house as it's known is surrounded by the oldest formal gardens in the region you

Channel: Smithsonian Channel

Views: 18,305

Rating: 4.8666668 out of 5

Keywords: smithsonian, channel, documentary, stream tv, free tv, free tv streaming, facts, episodes, tv online, watch, video, free videos, maryland, aerial america, air, americana, travel, space, delaware, exploration, landmark, colonial life, new castle, town, william penn

Id: 9SN9_VQ69qo

Length: 1min 58sec (118 seconds)

Published: Mon Aug 22 2011