The New Castle Court House Museum, one of the oldest and most historic courthouses in the United States, will re-opened to the public on September 28th, 2007 after a year-long period in which the main part of the facility was closed for restoration work. A National Historic Landmark, the New Castle Court House was built in 1732. The building served as Delaware's first court and state capitol. Here in 1776, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties declared their independence from Pennsylvania and England creating the Delaware State. The site was also the location of the 1848 trial which resulted in the conviction of John Hunn and Thomas Garrett on charges of aiding and abetting escaped slaves in violation of the federal Fugitive Slave Act. The $2.5 million restoration of the New Castle Court House took place between September, 2006 and August, 2007.