Northern Delaware’s Brandywine Valley certainly has plenty of great attractions that visitors can enjoy. Among them is the impressive Hagley Museum and Library, which is found resting along the banks of Wilmington’s Brandywine River. It was here that E.I. du Pont founded a gunpowder mill in the early 1800's, and it was the first place in the U.S. where the du Pont family built a home and gardens. The main mansion and gardens here are simply spectacular, and should you be interested in learning a little about U.S. technology and business, you can peruse the manuscripts, documents and other publications in the Hagley Library. The Hagley Museum and Library offers tours for visitors that feature an array of exhibits and demonstrations.
Hagley Museum history can be felt everywhere you turn
here. The grounds are strewn with vestiges of the property’s
gunpowder production days, from restored mills and mill
equipment, to unrestored mills and machinery-filled workshops.
The Eleutherian Mills du Pont home offers a wonderful
Brandywine River view, and the antiques and decor certainly
detail the kind of opulence enjoyed by generations of
the du Pont family. The botanical gardens are a joy to
stroll during Hagley Museum Delaware trips, and you can
also check out the old office and barn that are found
near the main residence. Part of the fun of visiting the
Hagley Museum and Library is the chance to examine the
19th century farm equipment and tools. If you like cars,
you’ll love the lower level of the Barn, where you
can find an exhibit based on the du Pont company’s
car manufacturing operation. Among the relics found here
are a 1928 du Pont Phaeton. An interesting Detroit Electric
car is surely worth checking out as well.
The Powder Yard is a neat Hagley Museum Delaware attraction,
exhibiting mills and waterwheels. In the early days of
Hagley Museum history, waterpower was pretty much the
way to get things working, as electricity was still a
bit off. Hagley Museum Delaware tours are a great way
to learn about the things that early American companies
dealt with. At the Powder Yard, you can see demonstrations
aimed at showing how the different machines and mills
functioned. The Worker’s Hill is of considerable
interest, and here you will also find live demonstrations
with costumed workers that give insight into Hagley Museum
history. Found at the Worker’s Hill exhibit are
the Gibbons House, where workers’ families resided,
and an early 1800's schoolhouse where the workers’
children got their education. Gunpowder was the first
industry that the du Pont family engaged itself in, so
not only is Hagley Museum history interesting in terms
of the direct property, but also in the bigger scheme
of things. Today, the Du Pont company is the second largest
chemical company in the world, and at the Hagley Museum
and Library, you can view science and technology exhibits
that are a great compliment to the more historical gunpowder
exhibits.
The Hagley Museum Library is a wonderful research center,
where guests are welcome to peruse the many great documents
and publications found here. The Hagley Museum Library
was founded in 1953 by a du Pont family member by the
name of Pierre. Over time, the library would become more
and more prestigious, and in 1985, it was inducted into
the Independent Research Libraries Association. If you
are coming to the Hagley Museum Library for the first
time, you’ll need to get a research card to be able
to access the exhibits and resources. If you are going
to spend a few hours here, you might choose to bring a
lunch with you. There is a staff lounge on-site where
visitors are more than welcome to relax for a bit. There
are some regulations to follow when accessing the Hagley
Museum Library archives, so take care to make sure you
are leaving things as you find them. Group tours of the
Hagley Museum and Library are a great way to enjoy your
time spent here, or at least some of it. The Brandywine
Valley’s history is very much influenced by the
du Pont family, and since they began their operations
at Hagley, it gives insight into many of the other attractions
found in northern Delaware.
There’s so much interesting stuff here to examine and explore, so you’ll want to schedule at least a few hours to appreciate it all. The Hagley Museum and Library is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. between the dates of March 15 and January 1. During the winter, there is a single guided tour offered on weekdays, while the weekends see normal hours. Some of the different exhibits have hours all their own, so you’ll want to check ahead to make sure you’ll get to see what you want to see. Admission is just over $10 for adults, with a $1 discount for seniors and students. Kids 6 and under get in free, while those between the ages of 7-14 get in for around $5. The Hagley Museum and Library is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. On the second Saturday of the month, you can also access the Library from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Since Delaware’s high season for tourism is the summer, you might experience decent crowds then, but even at its busiest, you likely won’t find yourself vying with crowds or waiting in line. If you’re in northern Delaware visiting, you really should consider a stop at the Hagley Museum and Library. It’s a good time and not too expensive, making it worth of inclusion on your list of Delaware things to do.
