Historic Rehoboth talk to explore railroad era Nov. 18
After a popular summer-long exhibit of the Golden Age of Rehoboth Beach diorama, its maker Paul Lovett has gifted the handcrafted townscape to the Rehoboth Beach Museum.
Lovett will present a guided tour of the diorama at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18, at the museum, offering historic details about the homes, businesses and other structures depicted, and the everyday lives of Rehoboth Beach residents and visitors in bygone years.
Now located in the museum’s first-floor west gallery, the diorama is a miniature model of the city set back in time to circa 1910, when the railroad ran down the middle of Rehoboth Avenue. A train complete with smoke and whistle chugs down the main thoroughfare of the replica, as the real locomotive did until upgrades to Delaware’s roadways led automobiles to eclipse railway travel as as the preferred way to get to the beach.
Starting at the Atlantic Ocean with Horn’s Pier and Pavilion (lost to the sea in the Storm of 1914), the diorama is populated with tiny people in historic dress enjoying many of the pastimes still appreciated today, such as strolling in the fresh sea air, taking a dip in the ocean, enjoying stays at beach houses and hotels, attending church, and going out for meals, shopping and more. Back in the day, amusements included a roller rink, merry-go-round and movie theater.
“The exhibit is so charming and clearly reflects its maker’s passion for the history of our wonderful town,” said Heidi Nasstrom Evans, Rehoboth Beach Museum executive director. “While the exhibit is now on permanent view and can be enjoyed whenever the museum is open, it is best experienced in Mr. Lovett’s presence, when he personalizes the history to the interests of his audience.”
Learn more and reserve seats for the event at rbmuseum.org. Email education@rbmuseum.org and 302-227-7310 with any questions. The museum is now in its off-season schedule; open hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
The Rehoboth Beach Museum, operated by the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and showcasing for the public the history, culture, and unique character of Rehoboth Beach.
