USA Today is publishing its annual “10 Best” readers’ choice lists, and one Delaware museum made the cut for the list of the 10 best open-air museums in the U.S. Delaware’s own Hagley Museum & Library is number nine on the list, and it’s easy to see why. With 235 acres packed with historic structures, intriguing demonstrations and historic grandeur, there are so many reasons why Hagley is a top open-air museum.
There’s something for everyone at Hagley. Along with the preserved historic du Pont home and gunpowder mill, the museum is also home to rotating exhibits exploring different facets of American history.
Currently at Hagley is the Nation of Inventors exhibit celebrating the American spirit of ingenuity by exploring the golden age of American invention. Hagley Museum visitors can walk through more than 120 patent models from throughout the 1800s. Museum visitors can see the exhibit on two floors of the Visitor Center before embarking on their Hagley Museum tour.
The du Pont Home & Powder Yard
Before the other sprawling du Pont estates were built throughout the region, Eleutherian Mills was the first American home of the du Pont family. Now, the house is filled with historic furnishings and collections of American art for visitors to see on guided tours. Outside, visitors can walk through the garden and visit the barn that houses the Conestoga Wagon used to transport black powder to Wilmington for shipment. Plus, the barn also houses historic cars and a brief history of the du Pont family’s relationship with the automobile industry.
Black powder production is a major aspect of the Hagley Museum’s educational experience. The preserved powder yard draws history enthusiasts from all over year after year. Visitors can explore historic stone structures that once housed the powder manufacturing process. They will also see 19th-century machinery, waterwheels and turbines all powered by the Brandywine River.
View this post on Instagram
Historic Demonstrations
The Hagley Museum’s expert staff provides a variety of engaging demonstrations to museum guests. Along with the hydro-power demonstrations at the powder yard, visitors can watch a small controlled gunpowder explosion. Plus, there’s an opportunity to see a preserved 16-ton roll mill that was used to produce black gunpowder. The preserved machine shop houses working 19th-century machines and experts ready to show them in action. On select days, Hagley also hosts historic cannon demonstrations on the museum grounds.
Plan a Visit
Whether you’re a first-timer or it’s just been a few years, a visit to Hagley is sure to be a fun and educational experience. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week, the Delaware hotspot offers plenty of opportunities for a visit. Shuttles and tour guides make it easy to traverse the 235 acres and see all there is to experience. By the end of your visit, you’ll see why Hagley is one of the best open-air museums in the U.S.
Hagley Museum & Library | 200 Hagley Creek Rd, Wilmington | hagley.org
