In the middle of the quaint seaside town of historic Lewes is a modern clock commemorating the founding of the first settlement in Delaware in 1631.  

The careful attention to the historic details in the construction of the clock, matching the architectural elements of the nearby historic buildings from the 1600s to 1800s makes it appear frozen in time. The clock stands about 10 feet tall and was constructed by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati. The clock was crowdsource-funded in 2022 under a campaign by locals and features the town motto: “The first town in the first state.” 

The Dutch settlement consisted of some 32 immigrants, but the settlement was destroyed. About 30 years later, more Dutch immigrants arrived to re-establish the town. In 1787, Delaware became the first state to sign the United States Constitution, earning the town its moniker.