Fundraising Goal: $2,500

$105 raised from 3 unique donors
Verified 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Help Bring Delaware’s History to Life for Thousands of Children

Organization Mission:

The mission of the Historic Odessa Foundation is to preserve and promote the homes, grounds, collections and historic legacy of Odessa, DE. Our Foundation is charged with raising money, maintaining Odessa’s historic assets, supporting scholarly and archeological work and educating the public in the history of the town and the state of Delaware in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Help Bring Delaware’s History to Life for Thousands of Children

Students get a hands-on experience of what life was like during America's colonial period.

Every year, more than 4,500 students walk through the doors of Historic Odessa and step back in time. Through our Living History Education Program, children don’t just learn about colonial Delaware—they experience it.

They make Appoquinimink Cakes, examine primary sources, experience day-to-day life of children who lived 200 years ago, and discover that history isn’t distant or dull, it’s deeply connected to their own lives.

Since launching our program in 2006, Historic Odessa has grown from serving just 236 students to becoming a vital educational resource for schools across Delaware. Our workshops are aligned with state standards and designed by educators, making it easier for teachers to bring meaningful, hands-on learning to their classrooms.

Volunteers lead Historic Odessa's Living History education program that welcomes thousands of students a year.

But for many schools, cost is a barrier.

Transportation and admission fees can prevent students, especially those from underserved communities, from participating. That’s why we created our Education Scholarship Fund: to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, explore, and be inspired, regardless of financial circumstances.

Your support makes this possible.

A gift to Historic Odessa’s Education Fund helps:
  • Provide scholarships for students in need
  • Cover transportation costs for schools
  • Expand hands-on, standards-based programs
  • Preserve Delaware’s history for future generations

When you give, you’re not just funding a field trip, you’re opening doors, sparking curiosity, and helping young people understand who they are by discovering where they came from.

Join us in keeping history alive. Donate today and help shape tomorrow’s learners.

Students learn the art of colonial cooking with Education Curator Johnnye Baker.
About Historic Odessa Foundation

Established in 2005, the Historic Odessa Foundation owns and operates Historic Odessa, a 72-acre enclave of 18th and 19th century structures located in the town of Odessa, just two miles from DE 1 and just off U.S. Route 13 in southern New Castle County, Del. The historic buildings and gardens along with a well-documented collection of more than 7000 objects and furnishings offer a unique picture of Delaware’s colonial period in a rural village that played a vital part in America’s commercial history. The town of Odessa, originally known as Cantwell’s Bridge, has retained much of its 18th century charm and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home to a National Historic Landmark, and two National Park Service Network to Freedom sites.

Organization Details

Organization Logo

Name:
Historic Odessa Foundation

EIN: 412154236

Street Address:
201 Main Street

City: Odessa

State: DE Zip: 19730

Social Media:

Website:
https://www.historicodessa.org/

Counties Served: New Castle, Kent, Sussex

Office Locations: Middletown, Odessa

Sectors: Museums & Historical

Recent Donations

  • Anonymous ---
  • Anonymous $50
  • Antoinette Maccari-Klingsberg $5