Wilmington: History, Culture and the Riverfront

Wilmington offers several ways to shape your stay: historic sites, theaters and museums, waterfront paths, and urban natural spaces. When choosing a hotel in Wilmington, you can first consider whether history, cultural offerings, or nature will shape your stay.

History, Culture and Theaters

Fort Christina Park marks the site where Swedish and Finnish settlers landed in 1638 and founded the colony of New Sweden. Old Swedes Church, built in 1698, is still in use. It is one of the oldest buildings in Delaware and one of the few surviving records of the New Sweden colony in the Delaware Valley. Together, the two dates mark different milestones in this history. Since the early 20th century, Rodney Square has also been considered the symbolic center of Wilmington.

Tours at Old Swedes Historic Site include the cemetery dating to 1638. They are offered Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; check the schedule before your visit. The Grand Opera House opened in 1871 and has been a landmark of the city and surrounding region for more than 140 years. Each season, it presents more than 80 events, spanning rock, comedy, classical music, dance, jazz, world music, and family entertainment. The program and scale of offerings may change. The August Quarterly tradition also dates back a long way: Bishop Peter Spencer founded the festival in 1813; it is considered one of America’s oldest African American folk festivals. The Wilmington Underground Railroad tour identifies sites with documented connections to Underground Railroad and abolitionist activities. At Fort Christina Park, The Rocks is recognized as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Museums on a Range of Topics

The Delaware Art Museum includes the Copeland Sculpture Garden, where 20 sculptures by nationally recognized artists stand among native plants. The Delaware History Museum presents permanent and rotating exhibitions about Delaware’s past. The Delaware Children’s Museum offers interactive exhibits, as well as changing educational programs and special events. Visitors interested in nature and ecosystems can find hands-on activities and interactive experiences covering a variety of ecosystems at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science. The museums thus range from art and regional history to nature topics and hands-on offerings.

The Riverfront: Shipbuilding History and Trails

Wilmington Riverfront was once an important shipbuilding site; more than 200 ships were built there during World War II. Former warehouses, mills, and factories now house markets, theaters, and museums. The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s museum and learning center at Wilmington Riverfront offers maritime exhibits and an in-depth audio tour. Riverfront Wilmington also includes a 1.4-mile Riverwalk along the Christina River.

A longer route is the 5.5-mile Markell Trail, a biking and walking trail from Wilmington to New Castle. The DuPont Environmental Education Center provides access to its trailhead. The Riverwalk and Markell Trail distances offer a concrete comparison of route lengths; the Markell Trail is also designated for both biking and walking. The Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge is an urban freshwater tidal marsh with more than 400 plant and animal species.

Green Spaces and Getting Around

In Brandywine Park, winding paths run through dense woods and are used for running and biking. Southbridge Wilmington Wetlands Park uses nature-based methods to improve water quality and reduce flooding. The park is a restored habitat where plants and animals are intended to move in and thrive. The two parks represent different nature-focused features: woodland paths and exercise at one, and water quality and wetland development at the other.

Dining is another factor to consider when planning your stay. On Market Street, options range from upscale restaurants and casual, creative spots to food halls with a variety of cuisines. Restaurants and individual operators may change. Wilmington is connected regionally, nationally, and internationally via Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Wilmington Airport (ILG), Amtrak/SEPTA Wilmington Station (WIL), and the I-95 and I-495 highways. As individual services and routes may change, check current connections for your planned trip.

Explore more destinations: Christiana, Brandywine, New Castle, Delaware City, Bear, Hockessin, Newark, Claymont

For the broader travel overview: New Castle County.