Hagley Museum and Library

Hagley Museum and Library Overview

Hagley Museum and Library, located in Wilmington, Delaware, is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of American business, technology, and innovation.

Spanning over 235 acres along the Brandywine Creek, the site features the original du Pont gunpowder mills, the du Pont family's ancestral home, and meticulously restored mills and gardens.

Museum Exhibits and Attractions

The museum offers a comprehensive exploration of early American industry through its diverse exhibits:

• Powder Yard: Restored gunpowder mills showcasing the industrial processes that powered the du Pont company's early success.
• Workers' Hill Community: Insights into the lives of 19th-century workers, showcasing their homes and community spaces.
• E. I. du Pont Garden: A Renaissance Revival garden created in the 1920s by Louise Evelina du Pont Crowninshield, featuring terraces and statuary.
• Crowninshield Garden: A beautifully restored garden reflecting the du Pont family's horticultural interests.
• American Patent Models: Extensive collection highlighting the evolution of American innovation through patent models.

These exhibits collectively illustrate the technological advancements and social dynamics of early American industry.

Library and Research Center

The library houses a major research collection with manuscripts, archives, photographs, pamphlets, and books documenting the history of American business and technology.

As a member of the Independent Research Libraries Association, it serves scholars nationally and internationally.

Holdings include:

• 37,000 linear feet in the Manuscripts and Archives Department
• 290,000 printed volumes in the Imprints Department
• 2 million visual items in the Pictorial Department
• Over 300,000 digital images and pages in the Digital Archives Department

Visiting Information

The museum is open six days a week (closed Wednesdays) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to check current hours before visiting.

Location

Hagley Museum and Library is located at 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19807. The library entrance is at 298 Buck Road, Wilmington, DE 19807.

Additional location:

• Wilmington, DE, USA