Nanticoke Heritage Byway

The Nanticoke Heritage Byway is a scenic byway that runs through rural Sussex County, Delaware. The byway offers visitors wonderful scenery, historical sites, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Historic Bethel

The town of Bethel is listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places and rests on the north bank of Broad Creek, a tributary of the Nanticoke River. Bethel was made famous by the shipbuilding industry and still looks today much like it did in the 1700s.v

Woodland Ferry

This history ferry crosses the Nanticoke River and dates back to as early as 1734. At the center of the Nanticoke Heritage Byway, it’s one of the oldest ferries in continuous operation in the United States and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Trap Pond State Park

Delaware’s first state park rests on the southern end of the Nanticoke Heritage Byway and features an abundance of water-related activities. Also boasting the Bald Cypress Nature Center and plenty of walking trails, the historic park is a great spot to take a break during a tour of the byway.

Governor Ross Mansion

This 19th century Italian villa-style mansion was once the home of Delaware Governor William Henry Harrison Ross. It’s one of the cornerstones of the Nanticoke Heritage Byway and is open to visitors several times a year.

Old Christ Church

This historic church in Laurel remains almost entirely as it was in the late 1700s when it was a chapel of ease for Stepney Parish in Maryland. It rests on Chipman’s Pond and is still open during the summer months for Sunday services.

NANTICOKE HERITAGE BYWAY

Take a 9-minute tour of the many sites along the picturesque Nanticoke Heritage Byway in western Sussex County, Delaware. Visit Seaford, Laurel, Woodland, Bethel and Concord on this visual tour that encompasses the nearly 40 miles of the historic byway.