The Green is the heart of Dover's historic district. Laid out in 1717 as the city of Dover's central square, The Green is where the Delaware delegates met in 1787 to become the first state to ratify the US Constitution. The tavern where they met is gone but The Green continued to play an important role in civic life as a place to gather, rally, review troops, and hold patriotic events. The focal point of The Green is the Old State House, begun in the same year that Delaware ratified the Constitution. - NPS