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Wilmington is the largest city in Delaware, with about 70,000 people where the Christina River and Brandywine Creek meet the Delaware River. Swedish colonists founded Fort Christina here in 1638, the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley, and Old Swedes Church from 1699 is one of the oldest churches in the country still in use.
The Brandywine Valley around the city is famous for the du Pont family. Hagley Museum preserves the original DuPont gunpowder works on the Brandywine, and nearby Winterthur, Nemours Estate and Longwood Gardens show off grand mansions and gardens. The Delaware Art Museum holds a fine collection of American illustration and Pre-Raphaelite art.
Downtown, the Riverfront has restaurants, a walking path, the Kalmar Nyckel tall ship and the Delaware Children's Museum. Brandywine Park follows the creek with gardens and old mills, and Trolley Square and Market Street have lively restaurants and the historic Grand Opera House.
A redeveloped district along the Christina River with a riverwalk, restaurants, a minor league ballpark, the Delaware Children's Museum and the Riverfront Market. Water taxis run in warmer months. It is a pleasant place for an evening stroll and dinner; parking lots and garages are close to the river.
A lively neighborhood northwest of downtown Wilmington, near Brandywine Park, with rowhouses, pubs, restaurants and small shops along Delaware Avenue and nearby streets. It is popular with young locals for nightlife and weekend brunch. Street parking can be scarce in the evenings, so allow time.
A museum on the Brandywine River at the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. Visitors tour restored mills, machine shops, a workers' community and the first du Pont family home and garden. Plan at least half a day, and use the shuttle bus that runs around the large grounds.
An art museum on Kentmere Parkway known for its large collection of English Pre-Raphaelite art and works by American illustrators such as Howard Pyle, along with John Sloan paintings. Outside is a sculpture garden with a labyrinth. Allow about two hours and check for free admission times.
The former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont northwest of Wilmington, now a museum of American decorative arts with 175 period rooms, plus about 1,000 acres of naturalistic gardens and woodland. Garden tram tours run in season. Book house tours ahead and plan most of a day for a full visit.
A grand mansion built for Alfred I. du Pont, modeled on French chateaus, with formal French-style gardens, fountains, a reflecting pool and a collection of art and vintage cars. It opens seasonally, usually from spring to late fall. Buy tickets in advance and allow about two to three hours for the visit.
Holy Trinity Church, built in 1698 by Swedish settlers, is one of the oldest church buildings in the United States still used for worship. The stone church sits in a historic burial ground near the Christina River, with the Hendrickson House museum on the grounds. Check tour times before visiting.
A full-scale replica of the Swedish ship that brought the first settlers to Delaware in 1638, based at the Copeland Maritime Center near the Wilmington Riverfront. When in port, visitors can tour the deck, and public sails are offered in warm months. Check the sailing schedule, as the ship travels often.
A restored 1871 Victorian theater on Market Street, built by the Masons with an ornate cast-iron facade. Today The Grand hosts concerts, comedy, dance and touring shows on its main stage and in the smaller Baby Grand next door. Check the calendar and buy tickets early for popular performances.
A historic park along both banks of the Brandywine River close to downtown, designed with help from Frederick Law Olmsted, with stone bridges, river paths, the Josephine Garden with cherry trees and Jasper Crane Rose Garden. Spring blossom season is the prettiest time, and parking is along the park drives.
A small zoo within Brandywine Park, open since 1905, focusing on animals from the Americas and other temperate regions, including red pandas, Andean condors and tamarins. It suits families with young children and takes about an hour to see. Entry fees are modest; it is busiest on spring weekends.
A hands-on museum on the Wilmington Riverfront with interactive exhibits on science, engineering, art and play, including a climbing structure and a water area. It is aimed at children up to about 10 years old. Weekday mornings can be busy with school groups; free parking is available near the entrance.
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