We visited Old Swedes Historic Site last Saturday when we visited Wilmington and New Castle on a…read moreday trip to Delaware. We're visiting Sweden at the end of the month, and I was keen to learn some Swedish American history. And - to be honest - until I started researching for our day trip (after learning about the replica of the Kalmar Nyckel and its sails down the Christina River) - I didn't know much at all about New Sweden! Old Swedes Historic Site was not only very informative - but interesting! Old Swedes Historic Site is a place where you can learn about New Sweden - a Swedish colony in North America (in what is now Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) from 1638-1655 (it was incorporated into New Netherland in 1655 after it was conquered by Peter Stuyvesant). For a time, Fort Christina (in what is now Delaware, and just down the street from Old Swedes) was the first settlement of New Sweden. At Old Swedes Historic Site, you visit three different sites in one spot and on one guided tour: the Hendrickson House (an example of a home built by Swedish colonists) that was moved to the site); the 1638 Burial Ground; and the Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church (built in 1698). The church was particularly interesting - with its brick floor, oldest pulpit in America, beautiful stained glass, and carved into wooden doors! Our tour guide was very nice, and the tour was only about 45 minutes (you can stay and explore more of the burial ground if you choose after the tour). In a single day, you can visit the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation and Museum (and sail on the Kalmar Nyckel), visit the park and monument now at the former site of Fort Christina, and Old Swedes Historic Site. These three stops were interesting and really gave us a much better understanding of this part of American colonial history that I was quite ignorant of. Definitely worth including in a day of exploring the area!

Oldest active church in the US…read more.. You can also stop for a National Park cancellation stamp here. Very cool grounds to walk. 5 stars for that!

Wilmington, DE - we visited several du Pont estates during our stay in the beautiful Brandywine…read moreValley area, starting with the Hagley Museum, which is the place of the first du Pont family home, built by the French immigrant ancestor who started it all, Éleuthère Irénée du Pont. We toured the house (Eleutherian Mills) and garden, powder yard, saw a small antique car exhibit, a gunpowder demonstration, and strolled around the grounds, which are very walkable and well-shaded in parts, but there is also a shuttle that travels between the main areas (visitor center/museum, house, powder yards) which runs every 20 minutes. The property is impeccably maintained and gorgeous to walk around, bordered by the Brandywine River where we saw some kayakers row by (for paddlers & outdoor enthusiasts: you can do this as an activity in the area). Everything was SO well-organized, and the tour guides & staff could not have been more lovely or helpful. They helped us time-manage our tours (as we arrived late in the day and were in a bit of a rush) and were generous with answering questions and sharing information about the history of the place and of the du Pont family. ======= TIP: If you love museums and historic homes & gardens and plan to visit at least a couple, the best thing you can do is purchase a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport ($49 for individuals, or $99 for family including 2 adults & 3 children 17yo and under), which grants you admission to 12 area attractions that you can visit once any time between May 24-October 31. (This year is almost over but you can still buy the 2025 pass or wait for 2026 to be released.) There were many enterprising du Pont descendants/cousins, and the multiple grand estates in this area were built/owned by different branches of the family: in addition to Hagley there is also Winterthur, Nemours, Mt. Cuba Center, and Longwood Gardens - all of which are included in the passport. I find these properties to be more impressive than the Newport RI mansions, and highly recommend visiting as many as you can!

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the different areas on this 225 acre Estate and gunpowder mill. So…read moremuch history and great demonstrations that really helped me understand how things worked during the time the mill was operational. I was amazed that everything works and looks great and was used from 1803 to 1958. We did a walking tour with Susan (who was great) which included the powder yards. So much interesting information and it was great being able to ask questions. Take the tour. The docents in the house were all so helpful and friendly. We were there 4 hours so you know we really liked our visit to Hagley.

Battery Park is a public park in New Castle. It has a walking path/trail that leads around the edge…read moreof the park along the Delaware River. It's a nice place to stretch your legs during a day of exploring New Castle, especially if it's a pretty day. But the views can be a little industrial, and I wouldn't say it's a must see if you have a day to explore New Castle.

I really liked this park. Close to downtown. Ran along the water, which was very pretty. My only…read morenegative comment is that there is no path from the parking lot to get to the path on the water, you just had to walk over grass and uneven ground, which is difficult with a stroller or if you have difficulties walking.

As such a small state with only a few votes in the Electoral College compared to the other members…read moreof the Union, even back in the mid-1800's, Delaware didn't get much respect. Abraham Lincoln came to the First State only once when he was a Congressman but never returned when he was the President? Not even once? Also, you'd think that this would be near Lincoln Square. It isn't. The marker is on the side of a building and reads: "On June 10, 1848, Congressman Abraham Lincoln traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, for the purpose of addressing a meeting of members of the Whig political party. He was accompanied by Delaware Representative John W. Houston and two other members of Congress, who were returning to Washington from the Whig National Convention that had chosen Zachary Taylor as the party's presidential nominee. The future President and his colleagues delivered their remarks from a balcony at the east end of the Fourth Street Market House, a complex of buildings which stood in the center of 4th Street between Orange and Market. Introduced as the "Lone Star of Illinois," Mr. Lincoln was greeted with great enthusiasm by those in attendance. In a speech that was praised as "eloquent and patriotic," he extolled the principles of the Whig party and the virtue of its candidates. This was his only documented visit to the First State. After serving one term in Congress, he left public office to return to his law practice in Illinois. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States."

My husband and I went to Nemours Estate & Gardens after i had recently heard about it. The mansion…read morewas very beautiful. Just remember no eating, drinking (the complimentary water they give you upon entering their welcome center, don not touch anything, sit anywhere unless there is a throw pillow indicating "Yes you can sit here", oh yes and no chewing gum. The gardens were pretty except most of the flowers aren't in bloom in mid April, the fountains aren't turned on in the multiple reflection pools either. It would be great if they indicated all of this somewhere on their website. I just feel like you don't get your money's worth if not all of the flowers are in bloom. My advice is visit sometime in the summer possibly then maybe you'll see more. All in all it was a cool experience just to get out and do something but u definitely would have went at a later date had I known the gardens were not fully in bloom. But as a love of tulips I absolutely loved seeing those.

Wilmington, DE - one of several du Pont family grand estates in the Brandywine Valley, I'd say…read moreNemours is probably the most photogenic and classical of the properties, with its French chateau style house and formal gardens, modeled after the gardens at Versailles. When I say photogenic, I mean that literally - this is a gorgeous location for photo shoots. As close as one can get to Europe without going to Europe. Perhaps because of its stateliness and the expanse of symmetrical rather than natural terrain (or maybe because it's our third day visiting lavish homes and I've become impervious to luxury), I also found this to be the least interesting and inviting of the properties, but that's entirely a personal opinion and others may feel the opposite. Actually I take that back - I forgot all about the basement level of the home, which was a cool part of the house! There was also a lot of walking involved to see all of the gardens behind the house, which we endeavored to do, with many lovely features such as the reflecting pool & fountains, a maze garden, and a sunken garden which was under renovation at the time of our visit. The garden shuttle tour is great! It takes you all around the property and is a nice break from all the walking. There's also a chauffeur's garage displaying a small collection of vintage automobiles. ===== TIP: If you love museums and historic homes & gardens and plan to visit at least a couple, the best thing you can do is purchase a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport ($49 for individuals, or $99 for family including 2 adults & 3 children 17yo and under), which grants you admission to 12 area attractions that you can visit once any time between May 24-October 31. (This year is almost over but you can still buy the 2025 pass or wait for 2026 to be released.) There were many enterprising du Pont descendants/cousins, and the multiple grand estates in this area were built/owned by different branches of the family: in addition to Nemours, there is also Winterthur, the Hagley Museum & Library, Mt. Cuba Center, and Longwood Gardens - all of which are included in the passport. I find these properties to be more impressive than the Newport RI mansions, and highly recommend visiting as many as you can!

Fort Christina was the fort established by Swedish settlers who founded the colony of New Sweden in…read more1638. The colonists landed at "The Rocks" at the confluence of the Brandywine and Christina Rivers. In 1655, the Dutch fought the Swedes, which led to the surrender of the fort and the end of official Swedish colonial presence in America. The Dutch renamed the fort (Fort Altena), but the fort eventually fell into disrepair and vanished entirely. The land where the fort had been became part of an industrialized area but was turned into a park in 1938 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Swedish colonization of the area. The Crown Prince of Sweden gifted a monument to the park, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Crown Prince, and other Swedish royals attended the dedication of the park. There's not much too the park, but it was worth stopping by to see the monument and to see the remnants of "The Rocks," where the Swedes landed when they established New Sweden. Its hours are limited and seasonal (I think because it's opened and staffed by volunteers from the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation), but stop by if you're in the area and it's open!

The staff were very friendly. The park were closed most of the time. There is a museum nearby where…read moreyou can ask someone if there is any ranger available to open the park. The park itself is small. Very peaceful inside.

Another important landmark and point of history, this marker commemorates one of the station…read moremasters on the Underground Railroad. This was how many southern slaves escaped their slavery to the North and freedom. Wilmington was an important stop on this route. The marker reads: "Born August 21, 1789, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, Garrett came to Wilmington in 1822. A prominent merchant, his home and business were located nearby on Shipley Street. Garrett was committed to the anti-slavery efforts of his Quaker faith. He is credited with assisting more than 2,700 of "God's Poor" to escape slavery through the secret network known as the Underground Railroad. Though he was convicted and fined by the U.S. District Court in 1848 for aiding runaway slaves, he refused to abandon the fight to abolish slavery. After his death on January 25, 1871, Black Wilmintonians carried him to the Quaker Cemetery at 4th and West Streets in appreciation of his unwavering commitment to the emancipation of slaves."

I visited Winterthur for the first time with my mom on Christmas Eve for their Yuletide exhibit…read more I'd been mildly curious about the mansion over the years, and it seemed like a fun thing to do on my day off from work. The mansion is ornate, truly massive, and opulent. It's a true peek into the lifestyles of the rich. The Yuletide theme this past year was centered around Christmas and children's books, like Alice and Wonderland, Twas the Night Before Christmas, etc. When we arrived, we were a bit confused on where to park, as my mom has a handicap sticker. We ended up parking right at the visitor's center where the tram retrieves guests. We didn't have a long wait. On the tram, the driver recommended starting at the house and then walking down to the galleries. She didn't mention the enchanted woods/garden, so I didn't even realize they were there until I got home later that night -- bummer. Some of the folks working the rooms were pleasant, others felt like security guards. One chided my mom for leaning her hand against a wall at one point. Some were knowledgeable, and others clearly didn't want to be there. I appreciated the girl in the garden entry room who snapped our photo with the decorated trees before we stepped into the house! I took many pictures while in the house, and then we traipsed over to the galleries. The gallery building had a doll house, a really well-done gingerbread train station, furniture and other exhibits on the ground floor, and a rotating, very interesting exhibit on African American history on the second floor. After the galleries, we stopped by the museum store, and while most everything was dramatically overpriced, I did find a few cool items in my price range. We were on the grounds for roughly 2-3 hours I'd say before having lunch nearby. Arriving early was a good choice. They do offer reciprocal garden access with other garden memberships (I have one at home in Richmond, VA), so perhaps one day I'll use that access to see the gardens that I missed!

Wilmington, DE - the Winterthur estate is another grand property in the Brandywine Valley area that…read morewas built by generations of the du Pont family, with a 175-room mansion, landscaped gardens on its thousand-acre grounds (a delight to roam), a research library, and a museum that houses a large and impressive collection of American decorative arts, fine art, furniture, and other objects. Of particular charm are the Enchanted Woods, a magical fairy garden with whimsical structures, faerie homes, hidden nooks & crannies and unexpected discoveries. It really brings back the magic & nostalgia of childhood, when I used to love exploring in nature and playing make-believe in forests and meadows. The gardens are designed by Henry Francis du Pont and showcases fine examples of landscaping and horticultural design, but the Enchanted Woods are an absolute treasure. The on-campus cafe, while airy and spacious, didn't have too many options and the food, if I may be honest, was pretty terrible, but it ties you over. ======= TIP: If you love museums and historic homes & gardens and plan to visit at least a couple, the best thing you can do is purchase a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport ($49 for individuals, or $99 for family including 2 adults & 3 children 17yo and under), which grants you admission to 12 area attractions that you can visit once any time between May 24-October 31. (This year is almost over but you can still buy the 2025 pass or wait for 2026 to be released.) There were many enterprising du Pont descendants/cousins, and the multiple grand estates in this area were built/owned by different branches of the family: in addition to Winterthur there is also the Hagley Museum & Library, Nemours Estate, Mt. Cuba Center, and Longwood Gardens - all of which are included in the passport. I find these properties to be more impressive than the Newport RI mansions, and highly recommend visiting as many as you can!

Not much to see here, I'm not sure why they would note a historical marker for a piece of road…read morethat's barely three blocks long even if it looks pretty. The marker reads: "This 14.7 acre strip of land, connecting Rockford Park and Grove with Brandywine Park, was designed by famed American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. The land was donated by two Wilmington businessman, William M. Fields and William Poole Bancroft, the latter known as the father of the Wilmington park system. Olmstead's design was based on Fields research of parkways in other eastern cities he visited. He concluded that the right-of-way should be 150 feet wide, with buildings set back 25 feet on either side. Kentmere Parkway was completed to Fields' specifications in 1891."