May 01, 2025
Summer’s unofficial start is almost here, and if you’re looking for a unique day-trip destination, Hagley Museum is worth the drive. Located on the site of the original du Pont gunpowder works in Wilmington, Delaware, Hagley is a historic museum where early American industry, science, and innovation come to life across more than 200 acres of gardens, riverside trails, restored mills, and hands-on exhibits.
Recognized by USA TODAY as one of the 10Best Open-Air Museums in the country for two years running, Hagley offers visitors the chance to “experience history and culture in a natural setting.” A visit to Hagley includes a walk through history. In the Powder Yard, guests can explore the original site of the du Pont family’s gunpowder mills, where industrial heritage is on full display through working water-powered machines, black powder demonstrations, and restored 19th-century buildings. The scenic route winds past the lower dam, the iconic yellow boxcar, and the wooden Birkenhead waterwheel.
Set high on a hilltop overlooking the Brandywine, Hagley’s Historic Home and Garden area offers a unique opportunity to uncover centuries of du Pont family history. A tour includes stops at Eleutherian Mills, the first du Pont family home built in America; the First Office of the DuPont Company; the Du Ponts Down the Road exhibition with historic vehicles ranging from a horse-drawn carriage to a WWII Era Indian Motorcycle—all used by members of the du Pont family; and the E.I. du Pont Garden with heirloom varieties of flowers, vegetables and fruit trees.
Inside the Visitor Center, the Nation of Inventors exhibition explores 19th-century innovation through more than 100 original patent models submitted by inventors between 1790 and 1880. These miniature inventions reflect the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of early America, telling the stories of everyday people who helped shape the country’s future.
To enjoy all Hagley has to offer, become a member today. Membership provides free year-round museum admission and discount on signature events. Active-duty military personnel and their families receive free entry from Armed Services Day through Labor Day, as part of the Blue Star Museums program.
In addition to its daily offerings, Hagley is also rolling out a full calendar of seasonal events designed to make the most of summer. Whether you're planning a family outing, looking to try something new, or simply want to spend a day outdoors, there’s something for everyone happening at Hagley in the months ahead.
Start the season with a full day of outdoor activities. Visitors will participate in classic lawn games, outdoor painting, fishing (equipment is provided), and STEM activities for kids. There will be cannon firings throughout the day honoring Hagley’s past as a gunpowder production facility in the 1800s. Riding bikes and watching baseball are two nostalgic summer pastimes. Learn how they would be played more than a century ago with the Diamond State Baseball Club of Delaware, an amateur 19th-century vintage baseball team, and The Wheelmen, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the heritage of American cycling alive. Both will be demonstrating their old-school skills during the Summer Kick-Off Celebration. Food trucks and local craft brews are on hand when guests work up an appetite after all the activity.
• Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• $20 for adults; free for children 14 and under and Hagley members
Keep the fun going all summer long with a family-friendly outing to Summer
Nights at Hagley presented by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Each Wednesday
evening from June through August, explore the most beautiful mile along the
Brandywine at your own pace on foot or by bicycle. Dine outside with a
rotating schedule of local food trucks while listening to live music. Sip
some summer flavors with a cold canned Dogfish Head beer or culinary-crafted
cocktail. There are plenty of picnic tables and places to unwind along the
paved route. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnics and
non-alcoholic beverages. Each evening is dog-friendly, so grab a leash, and
bring your pup along for the ride.
• Wednesday evenings, June through August, 5 to 8 p.m.
• $5 for ages 6 and up; free for Hagley members and children under 6
Kerri Harrison/For Hagley Museum
Cast a line during Fishing on the Brandywine on select Saturday afternoons. We provide poles with lines and hooks (please leave your own equipment at home). Catch and release a sunfish, bluegill or even a largemouth bass. No fishing license is required, just sit back and see what you can hook.
• May 24, May 31, June 14, June 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Included with museum admission
Avoid the summer learning slide by taking on a STEM challenge at Science Saturday presented by Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP. Twice a month, visitors of all ages discover solutions to science challenges ranging from coding to physics. We’ll be trash talking on May 10 with “Digging into Compost” where visitors will witness the wondrous transformation from kitchen scraps to yard waste with our partners from Plastic Free Delaware. During the “Spring Fling” Science Saturday on May 24 (happening during the Summer Kick-Off Celebration), visitors will use Newton’s laws of motion to design a catapult.
• May 10, May 24, June 7 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Included with museum admission
When: Open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.). Closed Wednesday except for group tours, Member walking and Summer Nights at Hagley.
Price: $20 for adults; $16 for students; $16 for seniors (62+); $10 for children (6-14); free for children under 6 and active military; free for Hagley Members. Available online or at the door.
Where: 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19807
