New Castle County
Auburn Valley State Park and Mansion
Hockessin
Auburn Valley State Park features a furnished mansion completed in 1897, as well as the Marshall Steam Museum, with the largest collection of operating steam cars in the world. Experience life at the dawn of the automotive age. The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday and for private tours by appointment.
Delaware Art Museum
Wilmington
The DelArt houses nearly 12,000 pieces, including the Pre-Raphaelite collection, historical and contemporary American art, and American illustrations. Works by John Sloan, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Howard Pyle are housed within the museum and the outdoor Copeland Sculpture Garden. The museum is open year-round.
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Delaware Children’s Museum
Wilmington
The DCM is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)-based museum dedicated to enriching the educational experience of children and allowing them to explore. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $12 for those over age 12.
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Wilmington
Everywhere you look, our dynamic Earth is full of life. At the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, discover diverse ecosystems, explore our region during the Cretaceous period, and learn how nature connects us all. Formerly the Delaware Museum of Natural History, the museum is open daily.
Hagley Museum & Library
Wilmington
Located on 235 acres along the banks of the Brandywine, Hagley Museum & Library seeks to inspire all people to investigate and experience the unfolding history of American business, technology, innovation, and its impact on the world.
Historic Houses of Odessa
Odessa
Journey back to the 18th and 19th centuries with incredible architecture, picturesque gardens, and historic household items.
Iron Hill Museum
Newark
The Iron Hill Museum focuses on Delaware’s history in the Iron Hill area. Learn about iron milling and the Iron Hill Schoolhouse—one of 80 schools for African American children from 1919 through 1928. The museum is open year-round.
Kalmar Nyckel Museum and Copeland Maritime Center
Wilmington
Discover the Kalmar Nyckel and experience Delaware’s maritime history at the Copeland Maritime Center. The center offers experiential learning and provides educational programs year-round.
Nemours Estate
Wilmington
Built on a 300-acre plot of land, the French-style Nemours Estate was built for Alfred I. du Pont’s second wife, Alicia, in the late 18th century. Take a walk around the classical French mansion—with more than 70 appointed rooms—and through the formal French gardens.
New Castle Court House Museum
New Castle
Built in 1732, the New Castle Court House was the state’s first court and state capitol. Walk the halls and learn how Delaware’s three counties were formed. The museum is open year-round.
Rockwood Museum
Wilmington
Rockwood is an English–style country estate and museum built between 1851 and 1854 by banker Joseph Shipley. Rockwood is an excellent example of Rural Gothic Revival architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Newark
Offerings include Mechanical Hall Gallery, 30 N. College Ave., which features changing exhibitions of African American art and related topics; Old College Gallery, 18 E. Main St., which includes significant works of Brandywine School artists, as well as ceramics and sculptures; Special Collections and Gallery at the Morris Library, 181 S. College Ave., which features literary archives in a custom reading room; and Mineralogical Museum, 255 Academy St., which displays about 350 mineral specimens. The museums are open year-round.
Wilmington & Western Railroad
Wilmington
The Wilmington & Western Railroad began operation in 1872, carrying goods and passengers between the small towns and mills along Red Clay Creek. Today, it is a museum and tour for visitors young and old.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Wilmington
With a 60-acre garden and an extensive research library, Henry Francis du Pont’s former home is the premier museum of American decorative arts. Winterthur features 175 elegantly furnished rooms with various collections of decorative and fine arts. The museum is open year-round.
Kent County
Air Mobility Command Museum
Dover
This museum offers exhibits on military life, airlift and air refueling history, and an outdoor collection of over 30 vintage planes, including the only C-5 transport aircraft on public display in the world. The museum is open year-round.
Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover
The museum features fine art and decorative works by American artists from the 17th century and later. Featured exhibitions are regularly hosted throughout the year as well. Experience a variety of different art forms, such as sculptures, furniture by early cabinetmakers, and a collection of regional silver within the country. The museum is open year-round.
Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village
Dover
The big barn offers permanent and special exhibits about Delaware’s rural heritage, farming, and farm life. The village includes restored, historically significant farm buildings from across Delmarva. The museum is open year-round.
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Delaware State Police Museum
Dover
The Delaware State Police Museum was built for and dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Delaware State Police. The museum features a helicopter and vintage car. An exhibit details the Lambertson murder case and the execution of convicted murderer Billy Bailey.
Delaware Public Archives
Dover
One of the oldest archival programs in the country, the Delaware Public Archives preserves historical material, including documents, photographs, posters, maps, audiotapes, and census records that tell the story of Delaware. It is open year-round.
First State Heritage Park, Welcome Center and Galleries
Dover
This walkable network links historical and cultural sites in Dover, including the Biggs Museum of American Art, Legislative Hall, and the Old State House. The Welcome Center at the Delaware Public Archives provides information about museums and historical sites across the state. It is open year-round.
John Dickinson Plantation
Dover
Visit the 18th-century plantation of a Founding Father. The plantation now tells the stories of farmers; servants; and free and enslaved Black men, women, and children who worked there. Living history presentations are made several times a year. The plantation is open year-round.
Johnson Victrola Museum
Dover
This charming museum pays homage to the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Co. through phonographs, recordings, and memorabilia. The museum is open year-round.
Milford Museum
Milford
Housed in the old post office, the museum tells the story of Milford from its beginnings on the Mispillion River in the 18th century, as well as the histories of the surrounding communities. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays.
The Old State House
Dover
Tour the state’s original capitol building. The Old State House is open year-round.
Smyrna Museum
Smyrna
Owned and operated by the Duck Creek Historical Society, the museum displays artifacts of local history and culture. The museum is open year-round on Saturdays; reservations must be made in advance for visits on other days.
Star Hill Museum
Dover
In 1863, a congregation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was established where the museum is now located. It is believed that the former members of the church were part of the Underground Railroad. Now, the museum educates the public about the hardships of life as a slave. The museum is open year-round, but reservations must be made in advance.
Woodburn: The Governor’s House
Dover
This middle-period Georgian home was built in 1798 and has become one of the state’s most important historical sites. After its purchase in 1965, it became the official residence of the governor. Tours are available Monday through Friday by appointment only.
Sussex County
Bethany Beach History Museum
Bethany Beach
Memorabilia, photographs, and documents housed in the town hall explain the resort’s history. The museum is open year-round.
DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum
Fenwick Island
This private museum is one of the largest in the mid-Atlantic and includes artifacts recovered from centuries-old shipwrecks. The museum is open year-round.
Governor Ross Mansion & Plantation
Seaford
The mansion, slave quarters, and grounds offer a glimpse of life before the Civil War. The mansion is open Saturdays and every first and second Sunday; reservations must be made in advance for other times.
Lewes Life-Saving Station and Lightship Overfalls
Lewes
This station houses equipment used by 19th-century surfmen. Tour the Lightship Overfalls, which has been lovingly preserved.
Seaford Museum
Seaford
Established in the old post office, the museum covers history from a local perspective. The museum is open Fridays and first and second Saturdays and Sundays; reservations must be made beforehand for other times.
Zwaanendael Museum
Lewes
Learn about the Dutch settlement of Lewes in 1631, including the area’s maritime, military, and social history. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Nearby Pennsylvania
Brandywine River Museum of Art
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
The museum has rotating exhibitions highlighting American artists. Its Heritage Collection showcases the Wyeth family of artists, with pieces from well-known local landscape artists.
