Wilmington, DE Attractions

Hagley Museum is an outdoor museum and the site of the original du Pont gunpowder mills, as well as the estate and gardens. The first du Pont family home, Eleutherian Mills, built by E. I. du Pont in 1803 is located on the grounds. The restored French-style garden created by E. I. du Pont adjoins the home.

Henry Francis Du Pont's collection of American art and crafts from 1640 to 1860 can be seen in the Winterthur Museum north of the town. The restored mill in the Hagley open-air museum between Wilmington and Winterthur shows where his wealth came from. Nearby lies the Museum of Natural History.

Brandywine Park features a playground, a zoo and the Josephine garden which has over 100 Japanese cherry trees. The zoo specializes in North and South America endangered species.

Brandywine is ideal for visually-impaired visitors who can enjoy nature by walking the Sensory Trail.

The collection of works by three generations of Wyeths is of particular interest at the Brandywine River Museum as well as its fine collection of American illustration, still life and landscape paintings.

The Delaware Art Museum has a 12,000 piece collection that focuses on American Art of the 19th through the 21st centuries and English Pre-Raphaelite art of the mid-19th century.

Special collections at the Delaware Art Museum include over 200 drawings and paintings from the Howard Pyle collection, posters from American poster designers, and jewelry and metalwork made by English craftsmen in the Arts and Crafts style.

The Delaware Children's Theater in Dover is housed in what was once the home of The New Century Club. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Live family entertainment is offered annually.

The Delaware History Museum is located in a renovated art-deco Woolworth store. Three galleries feature exhibits on Delaware history including items from everyday life, costumes, children's toys, regional decorative arts, and paintings.

The Delaware Museum of Natural History in Wilmington has many exhibits in natural settings that include native flora and fauna as well as items from Africa and the Great Barrier Reef. The Discovery Room provides interactive exhibits and activities.

The museum has over 117,000 bird specimens and second largest collection of birds' eggs in North America.

(Attraction is closed)

The Delaware Toy & Miniature Museum in Wimington has over 100 antique and contemporary dollhouses, miniatures and sample furniture as well as dolls, toys, trains, boats, and planes from the 18th to 20th C.

Formerly known as The Playhouse Theatre, the DuPont Theatre is located within the Hotel du Pont. This Victorian theatre opened in 1913 and seats 1,252 patrons.

The Grand Opera House is located in a restored 1871 Victorian theater with a cast-iron facade. Over the years the Grand has hosted Victorian melodramas, burlesque, vaudeville, variety shows, musical recitals, symphonies and operas. Classical concerts and dance are the focus of today, and other entertainment opportunities are presented year-round.

Greenbank Mill was built in the 1760s as a merchant mill for flour. This grist and woolen mill was powered by an 18-foot water wheel. An 1850 bank barn with agricultural exhibits and livestock provide living history programs during the summer months.

The woolen mill, known as the Madison Factory, houses textile exhibits and demonstrations.

The Kalmar Nyckel is a recreation of the ship that brought the first settlers to the Delaware Valley in 1638. The shipyard is located next to the original landing site; it contains a museum with a video presentation detailing the ship's construction.

The ship frequently visits Delaware communities offering educational programs.

The Mezzanine Gallery is located in the Carvel State Office Building and features various media including painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry and fiber art.

Beginning January 1st, 2005, the Nemours Mansion and Gardens will be undergoing major renovations and restorations. This project will take approximately two years.

Built in 1798, the Old Town Hall was the center of political and social activities during the height of Wilmington's economy. This Federal-style structure housed the city's meeting chambers, offices and jail and served as the headquarters and gathering place of civic organizations. The Old Town Hall has been restored to its classic appearance.

OperaDelaware presents three mainstage operas a year at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition, the company sponsors a training program for students that includes workshops in singing, acting, movement, and set and costume building, as well as presenting operas for and by students.

Quaker Hill was first settled in 1738 by William Shipley, Thomas West and other Quakers who built homes. Three original homes survive as well as examples of 19th C architecture.

Rockwood is a mid-19th C manor built in the Rural Gothic style of architecture by Joseph Shipley. Joseph was a Quaker merchant banker who designed Rockwood similar to an English country estate. The estate includes the 1851 manor furnished as it was in 1895, a conservatory, the gardener's cottage, the carriage house, a lighted walking trail and six acres of gardens.