Rockwood Park & Museum

Rockwood Park & Museum Joseph Shipley, a Quaker merchant banker, built Rockwood between 1851 and 1854. This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Its Gothic Revival architecture and enchanting landscape were designed to reflect the beauty of an English country estate. Explore the grandeur, history, and beauty of Rockwood Park & Museum

From its Washington Street Extension entrance, Rockwood is a picturesque 72-acre public park just two miles from Wilmington, Delaware’s city center. Features include a picnic grove, festival grounds, urban wi

ldlife habitat, pet-friendly parkland, and some of Delaware’s best walking paths - linking to the Northern Delaware Greenway. The park has lighted walking trails, and free parking and is open dawn to dusk, daily without charge. Pass the entrance gates and the park transforms into one of the area’s oldest and grandest country estates. This collection of historic farmlands, now forested retreat, is crowned with a six-acre fantasy garden and is among America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions. Conceived and built by Joseph Shipley in the 1850s, Rockwood Park & Museum was designed to reflect his love of exotic horticulture, fine arts and antiques, fashionable architecture, and English gardens. Today, the mansion and heritage garden reveal highlights of Rockwood’s storied past through guided and self-guided specialty tours. Little has changed over the 120 years that Shipley and his descendants lived at Rockwood and the tours help describe its glamorous owners, diverse workforce, multi-generational collections from around the globe, historic house design, and even its paranormal activity! In addition, Rockwood’s staff also offers wellness, family, fine art, nature, and performing art programs year-round. And Rockwood’s historic Carriage House now hosts one of the area’s premier event venues. The mission of the site - owned, maintained, and operated by New Castle County - is to serve residents and visitors through education and recreation, while preserving and maintaining the historic 19th Century mansion, its collections, and grounds. Park & Museum office: Rockwood.org
Private event office: Rockwoodcarriagehouse.com

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Hours of Operation
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Park Hours:
Open Dawn till Dusk

Park & Museum Office Hours:
Mon-Sat, 10 am – 4pm
Sun, 12 – 4 pm

Museum Hours:
Thu-Sat, 10 am – 4 pm
Sun, 12 – 4 pm

FREE FIRST SUNDAYS, 12-4pm

ROCKWOOD'S SELF-GUIDED TOURS
$10, $8 NCC Residents, $2 Art-Reach Member, FREE for RPPS Members
Thu - Sat | 10-4 pm
Sun | 12-4 pm
We have heard the call and proud to offer a new self-guided alternative to enjoy Rockwood your own way. This tour is open to the first floor of the museum, but don’t worry, staff will be nearby to answer any questions! Reservations suggested but walk-ins are welcome. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. GUIDED MUSEUM TOURS
90-minute guided tour, $10NR, $8R, $2 Art-Reach Member; FREE for RPPS Members
Fri | 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm
Sat | 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm
Explore the grandeur, history and beauty of the Rockwood Mansion, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years. This tour emphasizes the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there. Reservations are suggested. Tour involves stairs. All ages.

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"We the People": The Talk-tails Lecture Series, at Rockwood Mansion Artists featured in the exhibition "We the People…" ...
05/22/2026

"We the People": The Talk-tails Lecture Series, at Rockwood Mansion

Artists featured in the exhibition "We the People…" at Rockwood describe how they developed their unique artworks and installation from the significant inspirations of Rockwood’s history and the Centennial celebration. The artist’s favorite signature cocktail will be available for sale. Each Talk-tail is customized to the speaker and may be a variety of formal lecture, informal conversation, Q&A, or touring "We the People…"

$10, $8 NCC residents, $2 Art-Reach members, free for RPPS members
Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/nccde/activity/search?activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=We%20the%20People%3A%20The%20Talk-tails%20Lecture%20Series&viewMode=list

Saturday, May 30, 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Yikui (Coy) Gu, doors open at 4 p.m.

Glimpse Rockwood from the perspective of servants who lived and worked on this estate and farm from the 1850’s through 2...
05/17/2026

Glimpse Rockwood from the perspective of servants who lived and worked on this estate and farm from the 1850’s through 20th century. This tour will highlight Rockwood’s laborers by exploring rarely seen spaces “below the stairs.” Ages 14-adult. $10, $8 NCC residents, $2 Art-Reach Member, free for RPPS Members. Bring proof of memberships for discounted rates at check-in.

May 24, 1-2:30 p.m.

Reservations: https://ow.ly/f80H50Yru8b

Don’t see a tour date and time that works for you? Have a large group? Contact us and make a special reservation! 302-761-4340 or [email protected].

The 2026 Spring Delaware Author Fair, co-hosted by Huxley & Hiro Bookstore and Rockwood Park & Museum, showcases the wri...
05/17/2026

The 2026 Spring Delaware Author Fair, co-hosted by Huxley & Hiro Bookstore and Rockwood Park & Museum, showcases the writing of over 50 authors from the Delaware area. Visitors to this outdoor event will discover new books, get your copy signed by the author, gain free access to the storied Rockwood Mansion, listen to public readings, and find fun literary merchandise. Participants include: the authors; Huxley and Hiro bookstore; Dueling Rabbits coffee, food trucks, retail vendors and much more! $10 early admission first hour, FREE after 1 pm.

Sunday, May 31,12-3 p.m.
Reserve your free spot today. Limited tickets available. https://ow.ly/6EzJ50YVNk8

Not another boooooring Friday night!! UGH! Come check out Rockwood's Game & Movie Night in the Museum, Fri., May 22, 5-9...
05/15/2026

Not another boooooring Friday night!! UGH! Come check out Rockwood's Game & Movie Night in the Museum, Fri., May 22, 5-9pm. Starting at 5pm we'll have over 50 games to play. Then at 6pm we'll play "Go For Broke", a movie set during WWII & a tribute to the US 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Drinks & snacks will be available for purchase & our galleries & gardens will be open late. Pay what you wish, but reservations are requested at https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/nccde/activity/search/detail/25203

See you there!

05/15/2026

Huge thank you to Concord Pet Foods & Supplies for this amazing raffle basket!

You will get the chance to win this special item at the Yappy Hour this Sunday!

Make sure to come by between 2-5pm — raffle tickets are $5 & all proceeds go to Rockwood Park preservation efforts. 🐾🐶🌟

Love music? Love dogs? Love parks? Yappy Hour combines our favorite parts of Rockwood into one awesome event. Yappy Hour...
05/13/2026

Love music? Love dogs? Love parks? Yappy Hour combines our favorite parts of Rockwood into one awesome event. Yappy Hour features live music, dog-themed vendors and a cash bar. All bar sales support Rockwood’s ongoing preservation efforts. Free. All ages.

Sunday, May 17, 2-5 p.m.
Invite your 2-legged and 4-legged friends! https://www.facebook.com/events/1270083411926142/1270083425259474/

Rockwood has always been the perfect setting for group entertainment: films and board games! Starting at 5 p.m., gamers ...
05/12/2026

Rockwood has always been the perfect setting for group entertainment: films and board games! Starting at 5 p.m., gamers will find friends as well as 50+ retro and modern games to play. Classic film lovers will be thrilled with the 6 p.m. viewing and group discussion. Or do both! Drinks and snacks available for purchase. Rockwood’s museum galleries and historic gardens are also open late to all who attend. All ages. Reservations suggested. Pay what you wish.
May 22 – Go For Broke (1951) - Robert Pirosh
Reserve a spot at https://ow.ly/IOCk50Ypesq

Rediscover Victorian literature and explore themes with Rockwood staff in the Rockwood Book Club, a free monthly discuss...
05/10/2026

Rediscover Victorian literature and explore themes with Rockwood staff in the Rockwood Book Club, a free monthly discussion of the connection of historic publications with current events. The Victorians loved their books, and many iconic publications of that era are still relevant today. Bring dinner or snacks to this roundtable discussion. Free. All ages.

May: The Life of Olaudah Equiano: Tales of Slave by Olaudah Equiano: An autobiography first published in 1789. Born in present-day Nigeria around 1745, Equiano recounts his kidnapping into slavery as a child and his journey across continents.

Wednesday, May 13, 6-8 p.m.
Pay what you wish. Reservations suggested. https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/nccde/activity/search/detail/25204

Secrets, Ciphers, and "Cupcakes": A Lecture and Writing Workshop at Rockwood Mansion Before the era of emails, texts, an...
05/09/2026

Secrets, Ciphers, and "Cupcakes": A Lecture and Writing Workshop at Rockwood Mansion

Before the era of emails, texts, and phone calls – in the golden age of hand-written letters - Victorians popularly used codes and cyphers to entertain readers and even conceal information. Join Rockwood’s Adult Educator, John Rutkowski, to explore historical examples of coded writing and to test your ability to write and decipher forms of coded messages. Focus will be placed on “cupcakes” – great for families. $10, $8 NCC residents. All ages.

Saturday, May 23, 2-4 p.m.
Register: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/nccde/activity/search/detail/25200

Address

4651 Washington Street Extension
Wilmington, DE
19809

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13027614340

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