VAF Delaware 2025 Conference Schedule

Tentative/working schedule, times still subject to change.

Wednesday, May 14 - Board Meeting, Registration and Opening Reception

DoubleTree (Legal District), 700 N. King Street

Board Meeting

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Registration

1:00 - 5:00 pm

8:00 - 10:00 pm

Early Arrival Activity

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Wilmington Architecture

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Opening Reception & Awards

Rockwood Park & Museum

5:00 - 7:30 pm 

*Buses will shuttle attendees to and from the hotel to Rockwood Park and Museum for tours, and the keynote, awards, and reception at The Carriage House. Times for bus arrival and departure will be a selection in the REGISTRATION Form.

Dinner on your own

Thursday, May 15 - Bus Tours 

7:00 - 8:00 am Continental Breakfast

Buses load in front of the DoubleTree hotel. Departure Times will be selected in Registration.

All tours include lunch and heavy appetizers / drinks at concluding reception.

Dinner on your own.

Country House Vernaculars: The Northern Borderlands of Wilmington (Thursday Tour 1)

OR

Stone, Brick, & Concrete: Along the Delaware River (Thursday Tour 2)

Friday, May 16 - Bus Tours

7:00 - 8:00 am Continental Breakfast

Buses load in front of the DoubleTree hotel. Departure Times will be selected in Registration.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Black and White Landscapes in Central Delaware (Friday Tour 1)

OR

Early Houses of Sussex County (Friday Tour 2)

Saturday, May 17 - Paper Sessions, Book Exhibits, Banquet & Annual Meeting

DoubleTree (Legal District), 700 N. King Street

7:00 am - 3:00 pm Registration

8:00 am - Book Exhibit Opens

8:15 - 9:45 am - Paper Sessions

10:00 - 11:45 am - Paper Sessions

1:00 - 2:00 pm - Poster Sessions

2:15 - 4:15 pm - Paper Sessions

4:30 - 5:30 pm - Buildings and Landscapes Meeting

4:30 - 5:00 pm - VAF Chapter Meetings

6:00 - 7:00 pm Happy Hour

7:00 - 9:00 pm Banquet

8:00 pm VAF Annual Meeting; Bishir, Buchanan & Cummings Awards; & Preview of Walla Walla 2026

Sunday, May 18 - Optional (Free) Tours 

Any Time: Self-Guided Architectural Tour of Downtown Wilmington

Use a printed guide or our Google Map to explore dozens of notable architectural & historical sites within walking distance of the conference hotel!

10:00am-2:00pm: Open House at Abel & Mary Nicholson House (Salem, New Jersey)

From 10:00am to 2:00pm, VAFers are invited to come tour this National Historic Landmark property – a pristine pattern-brick house built by prominent Quakers in 1722! More info is available on the conference overview page. (Please RSVP to Ralph Harvard at Lystra@rharvard.com and directions and instructions will be sent).