The DeBraak exhibit will be held at the Zwaanendael Museum. The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is currently offering public tours of His Majesty’s Sloop DeBraak. An interpreter will tour with patrons, the actual remains of the ship, which was taken from the ocean in the 1980’s. The DeBraak is a British warship that was capsized off the coast of Delaware on May 25, 1798, while protecting a fleet of British and American merchant ships on their way to the United States. Delaware received the remains of the ship’s hull and artifacts in 1992. The exhibit at the Zwaanendael Museum is the first of its kind for public sight and especially important to NiteLites, a Delaware Outdoor Lighting Company.

Zwaanendael Museum is where the tours begin, located at 102 Kings Highway in Lewes, Delaware. It begins with a lecture, presenting the history of the DeBraak, where the artifacts that were recovered will be out to view. Delaware lighting company, NiteLites of the Delaware Valley Outdoor Lighting, illuminates the 214 year old remains. Steve Levine, Outdoor Lighting Designer and owner of this Delaware outdoor lighting business designed and installed a unique lighting system to create an eerie and dramatic setting to make this old relic come to life for the public.

The DeBraak has not looked this good in 214 years.

Charles Fithian
State Curator of Archeology

Careful consideration from the State of Delaware was implemented requiring only energy saving, natural light components were to be used on this precious piece of history. The LED proposal submitted by NiteLites of the Delaware Valley Commercial Lights met the budgetary and technological requirements with their top of the line energy-efficient LED lighting solutions.

Tours will be at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the following Mondays in 2012.

  • July 16, July 23 and July 30.
  • August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27.
  • September 17 and September 24.
  • October 1.

The Tickets are $10 per person, age 10 and over. They are nonrefundable, and the tour is 2 1/2 hours. The ticket price includes transportation to the DeBraak facility in Cape Henlopen State Park from the Zwaanendael Museum. Tickets may be purchased through the Shop Delaware website under the Tours tab. For further information, please call 302-645-1148.

NiteLites of the Delaware Valley Outdoor Lights has offices in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, DE. This Delaware lighting company maintains professional memberships with New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, the Home Builders Association of Delaware, and the Rehoboth Beach – Dewey Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Levine, this Delaware lighting designer, is also incorporating the industry leading outdoor lighting concepts in other projects including an extensive lighting plan for the Buena Vista Convention Center’s ground and gardens along with other prominent Delaware Valley sites.