Dover in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Compass Rose
Photographed By Roger Dean Meyer, October 9, 2006
1. The Compass Rose Marker
Inscription.
The Compass Rose. . , First to ratify the Constitution of the United States , Delaware, The Compass Rose , Dedicated 7 December, 1988 , Authorized by the Delaware Heritage Commission and 134th General Assembly
First to ratify the Constitution of the United States Delaware
The Compass Rose
Dedicated 7 December, 1988
Authorized by the Delaware Heritage Commission and 134th General Assembly
Erected 1988 by Delaware Heritage Commission and 134th General Assembly.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is December 7, 1988.
Location. 39° 9.424′ N, 75° 31.235′ W. Marker is in Dover, Delaware, in Kent County. Marker is on Legislative Avenue, 0.1 miles south of Duke Of York Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dover DE 19901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Delaware was the first to ratify the Constitution. This Compass Rose on Legislative Mall in front of Legislative Hal, in Dover, includes bearing and distance to the site of, and date of, other ratifications.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
3. The Compass Rose
Photographed By Adam Margolis, January 19, 2022
4. The Compass Rose Marker Looking Northwest
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
5. The Compass Rose Marker
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
6. The Compass Rose Marker, center detail
Dover Delaware December 7, 1787
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
7. The Compass Rose Marker detail
Delaware
First to adapt
Will be last to
Desert the Constitution
Washington Monument
1849
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
8. The Compass Rose Marker detail
We the People
Of The United States
***
Do ordain and establish
this Constitution
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
9. The Compass Rose Marker detail
Pennsylvania 12·12· 1787* Philadelphia Coordinates
New York 7·26·1788 * Poughkeepsie Coordinates
New Jersey 12·18·1787 * Trenton Coordinates
New Hampshire 6·21·1788 * Concord Coordinates
Connecticut 1·9·1788 * Hartford Coordinates
Massachussetts 2·6·1788 * Boston Coordinates
Rhode Island 5·29·1790 * Newport Coordinates
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
10. The Compass Rose Marker, detail
A rising
and not a
setting sun
—Benjamin
Franklin
1787
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
11. The Compass Rose Marker detail
Delaware Ratifies Fully
Freely
& Entirely
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
12. The Compass Rose Marker detail
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 17, 2012
13. The Compass Rose Marker detail
1788 Augusta Georgia Coordinates
1788 Richmond Virginia Coordinates
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 2,622 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 3. submitted on November 4, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on January 21, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on October 27, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.