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Wilmington Attractions
Brandywine Park and Zoo
1001 N. Park Dr.
Wilmington, DE 19802 USA Phone: (302) 571-7747
Brandywine Park and Zoo is at 1001 N. Park Dr. along the Brandywine River between Augustine and Market sts. The 180-acre park was designed by the creator of New York City's Central Park, Frederick Law Olmstead, and features the Josephine Garden, which has 118 Japanese cherry trees. The zoo houses Florida bobcats, Siberian tigers, small mammals and a variety of North and South American reptiles and birds.
Allow 2 hours minimum.
Admission: Park free. Zoo admission June-Sept. $5; over 62, $4; ages 3-11, $3. Admission rest of year $4; over 62 and ages 3-11, $2
Attraction Type: Gardens; Parks, city/state/provincial; Zoological parks/exhibits
Hours: Park daily dawn-dusk. Zoo daily 10-4
Delaware Art Museum
2301 Kentmere Pkwy.
Wilmington, DE 19806 USA Phone: (302) 571-9590
Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Pkwy., contains a renowned collection of American paintings and illustrations by 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century artists. A 9-acre sculpture park, changing exhibits and an art research library provide further enrichment. A children's gallery features hands-on activities designed to stimulate creativity.
Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Admission $10; over 59, $8; college students with ID $5; ages 7-18, $3; free to all Sat. 10-1
Attraction Type: Art Galleries & Museums; Libraries, Archives; Museums; Paintings
Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10-4 (also Wed. 4-8), Sun. noon-4. Library available by appointment. Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25
Credit Cards: AE, DS, MC, VI
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts
200 S. Madison St.
Wilmington, DE 19801 USA Phone: (302) 656-6466
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts is at 200 S. Madison St. Three main galleries show curated exhibits by nationally- and internationally-known artists. The facility also contains more than 20 artist studios.
Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Admission $5, over 64 and students with ID $3, under 12 free
Attraction Type: Exhibits & Collections-Art; Museums
Hours: Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Sat. 10-5, Wed. and Sun. noon-5; closed holidays
Credit Cards: MC, VI
Delaware History Museum
504 N. Market St.
Wilmington, DE 19801 USA Phone: (302) 656-0637
Delaware History Museum, 504 N. Market St., features the interactive, multimedia permanent exhibition Distinctively Delaware. Changing exhibits feature art, costumes, toys, antiques, re-created scenes and historic photographs. Grandma's Attic is a learn-and-play discovery center for children.
Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Admission $4; over 65 and college students with ID $3; ages 2-17, $2
Attraction Type: Exhibits & Collections-Historical; Museums
Hours: Tues.-Fri. 11-4, Sat. 10-4; closed holidays. Phone ahead for current exhibit information
Credit Cards: MC, VI
Delaware Museum of Natural History
4840 KENNETT PIKE
Wilmington, DE 19807 USA Phone: (302) 658-9111
Delaware Museum of Natural History, 5 mi. n.w. on SR 52, contains a variety of natural history exhibits in naturalistic settings, from native flora and fauna to specimens representing Africa and the Great Barrier Reef. Noteworthy are an extensive shell collection, life-size dinosaurs and a full-scale model of a giant squid, and mounted African animals and extinct birds. The Discovery Room features hands-on exhibits and activities.
Food is available. Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Admission $6; ages 3-17, $5; over 59, $4
Attraction Type: Exhibits & Collections-Animals & Birds; Museums
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:30-4:30, Sun. noon-4:30; closed Jan. 1, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25
Credit Cards: MC, VI
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
801 S. Madison St.
Wilmington, DE 19801 USA Phone: (302) 425-3263
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is off I-95 exit 6, following signs to Frawley Stadium. The museum chronicles Delaware sports history from 1860 to the present through photographs, audio- and videotape presentations, artifacts and memorabilia. Highlighted among the sports notables that represent more than 30 sports are Olympic athletes, professional players, coaches, journalists and sportscasters. A 12-minute videotape provides an overview.
Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Admission $4; over 49, $3; ages 13-19, $2
Attraction Type: Exhibits & Collections-Sports; Halls of fame; Museums
Hours: Tues.-Sat. noon-5, Apr.-Oct.
Credit Cards: MC, VI
Delaware Toy & Miniature Museum
6 Old Barley Mill Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19807 USA Phone: (302) 427-8697
Delaware Toy & Miniature Museum is 3 mi. n. on SR 52 and .5 mi. n. to SR 141, then s. following signs to Hagley Museum. The museum holds a collection of antique and contemporary dollhouses, miniatures and sample furniture. Featured are American and European dolls, toy trains, boats and planes from the 18th century to the present. Enameled brass figurines and miniature vases dating from 600 B.C. also are displayed.
Allow 1 hour minimum. Guided 1.5- to 2.5-hour tours are available by reservation.
Admission: Admission $6; over 60, $5; ages 2-12, $3
Attraction Type: Children's attractions; Exhibits & Collections-Dolls & Toys; Exhibits & Collections-Historical; Museums
Hours: Open Tues.-Sat. 10-4, Sun. noon-4; closed holidays
Credit Cards: MC, VI
Hagley Museum
6 Old Barley Mill Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19807 USA Phone: (302) 658-2400
Hagley Museum, 3 mi. n. on SR 52 and .5 mi. n. on SR 141, then s. to Old Barley Mill Rd., following signs, occupies 235 landscaped acres on the site of the original gunpowder mills, estate and gardens. Many restored mills show the development of water power on the Brandywine River.
The visitor center is in an old stone cotton-spinning mill that houses interactive science exhibits tracing DuPont Co. history, from explosives manufacturing to the development of chemical products that changed the world. Highlights include a reproduction of Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont NASCAR race car and a space suit made of DuPont materials.
Eleutherian Mills, a Georgian house erected by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont in 1803, contains furnishings reflecting the tastes of five generations of du Ponts. Exhibits and demonstrations along the river depict the evolution of the American economy and include a wooden water wheel, turbine powered roll mills, an operating steam engine and a restored 1870s machine shop. Working models in the Millwright Shop demonstrate the production of black powder. A schedule of demonstrations is posted in the lobby of the Millwright Shop. The ruins of mills near the museum demonstrate an unusual construction style once used along the river. Three sides of the building were constructed of heavy stone topped by roofs with ridges set toward the walls opposite the river. The walls facing the river were made of wood. Consequently, the inevitable accidental explosions blew the back walls and roof sections toward the river, minimizing damage to both buildings and workers. A restored workers' community features a one-room schoolhouse and a worker's dwelling. Also on the grounds are the first office of the DuPont Co., Lammot du Pont's workshop, a 19th-century formal French garden and a barn with 19th-century farm tools, antique horse-drawn vehicles and a 1928 DuPont Motors Co. automobile. Allow 3 hours minimum.
Admission: Admission $11; over 61 and students with ID $9; ages 6-14, $4. Admission to visitor center $5; ages 6-14, $2
Attraction Type: Exhibits & Collections-Historical; Gardens; Historic buildings/houses; Mills; Museums; Restored villages/settlements
Hours: Daily 9:30-4:30, Mar. 15-Dec. 31; Sat.-Sun. 9:30-4:30, rest of year. Closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 25
Credit Cards: AE, DS, MC, VI
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