Dover via S Little Creek Road - Photo Outdoor festival Legislative Mall in Dover Since the late 1600s, Dover, DE has been the center of Delaware's political, social and mercantile activity because of its position as the seat of Kent County and its location as an important transportation hub at the head of the St. Jones River. In 1777, Dover became Delaware's capital city and remains home to a beautifully preserved capitol complex. This includes two state capitol buildings: the Old State House (1792), now a museum owned by the state's Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, and Legislative Hall, which replaced it as the seat of government in 1933. Route 9 Coastal Heritage Scenic Byway This Scenic Byway, runs in a north-south direction in a course that parallels the western shore of the Delaware River and Bay, winding past a succession of uniquely Delaware landscapes: heavily industrial sites, forests, tidal and non-tidal marshlands, areas of significant natural resources and wildlife habitat, historic towns and quaint villages.