Johnson Victrola Museum

Johnson Victrola Museum Founded in 1967, the Johnson Victrola Museum details the origin of recorded music.

Exhibits showcase the life and legacy of Eldridge Reeves Johnson, a pioneer in early sound recording and co-founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. The Johnson Victrola Museum is one of five museums administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, an agency of the state of Delaware. The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware, organized as a Division within the Department of State.

Since we are currently closed for renovations, it seems like an appropriate time to reflect and share this flashback pho...
05/27/2026

Since we are currently closed for renovations, it seems like an appropriate time to reflect and share this flashback photo. Here is an image of JVM during its early construction phase.

Description: A crane sets roof trusses for the Johnson Memorial Building (Johnson Victrola Museum). This negative was taken in the morning of August 15, 1966.

Photo via: Delaware Public Archives

Do our visitors miss us? Because we miss you! Enjoy some images we took before all the museum items were boxed and seale...
05/08/2026

Do our visitors miss us? Because we miss you!

Enjoy some images we took before all the museum items were boxed and sealed prior to the move.

We look forward to seeing everyone again this Fall. When we have more information, we will share on our main page along with Delaware Historical and Cultural Affairs page!

See you all soon.

Enjoy our Nipper of the month! Featuring a mail envelope with Nipper on stained glass.
03/06/2026

Enjoy our Nipper of the month! Featuring a mail envelope with Nipper on stained glass.

The holiday of love has recently passed but we wanted to share that we love our visitors and miss them dearly! We look f...
02/18/2026

The holiday of love has recently passed but we wanted to share that we love our visitors and miss them dearly!

We look forward to seeing you all again soon. Stay warm.

01/09/2026

Join the Zwaanendael Museum this January and help our neighbors in need.

In honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the Zwaanendael Museum is hosting a month long donation drive. This year we will be accepting donations of food, toiletries, sanitary items, and gently used, clean clothes for the Food Bank of Delaware, Code Purple Sussex County Delaware, and I Support the Girls - Delaware.

Donations may be placed in the bin out front of the Zwaanendael Museum.

You can see what is most needed for each organization by clicking the links below:
Most Needed Items, From the Food Bank of Delaware: https://bit.ly/3UUdLji
Code Purple Needed Items: https://www.loveincofmiddelmarva.org/cpneeds
I Support The Girls, About: https://isupportthegirls.org/about/

*Due to building hours we will NOT be accepting donations on Sundays. Donations will be accepted Mondays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with some exceptions*

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We will see you guys again soon! JVM is now closed for maintenance.
12/01/2025

We will see you guys again soon! JVM is now closed for maintenance.

We have some news... updates and improvements are being made to our museum. Therefore, JVM will be closed for several mo...
11/24/2025

We have some news... updates and improvements are being made to our museum.

Therefore, JVM will be closed for several months. We will miss seeing you! Last chance to visit us is Saturday, November 29th.

Ater this week, we look forward to reopening our doors again Fall 2026.

10/09/2025

Delaware history will be represented this fall at the third annual Hip Hop Cultural Summit hosted by the Delaware Art Museum, set for Oct. 18, 2025.

Tomorrow! Come out and join us for Family Fun Day! Hosted by Spotlight Delaware. See more details below.
09/26/2025

Tomorrow! Come out and join us for Family Fun Day! Hosted by Spotlight Delaware. See more details below.

Family fun, for free. Spotlight Delaware is holding its first Family Fun Day across the state on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The day celebrates Delaware’s family-oriented, friendly community, offering free admission at attractions such as museums, nature centers and historic landmarks.

All three Delaware counties are taking part, with at least five attractions participating in each. In New Castle County, free admission includes Delaware Art Museum, DuPont Environmental Education Center (Delaware Nature Society) , and Read House & Gardens. In Kent County, the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, John Dickinson Plantation and The Old State House are taking part in the festivities. Nanticoke Indian Tribe Museum, Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek and Abbott's Mill Nature Center are three free attractions in Sussex County for Family Fun Day.

spotlightdelaware.org/familyfunday

We are thrilled to be participating in the very first Spotlight Delaware Family Fun Day, where families across the state...
09/24/2025

We are thrilled to be participating in the very first Spotlight Delaware Family Fun Day, where families across the state can enjoy free admission and family-friendly activities at over 20 attractions.

Join us at on Saturday, September 27th - register today at

Spotlight Delaware invites you to join us for our first ever Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 27th, a celebration of Delaware’s family-friendly and close-knit community. Families can enjoy free admission at a variety of local attractions, including museums, nature centers, and historic landma...

Address

375 S New Street
Dover, DE
19904

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4pm

Telephone

(302) 739-3262

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