Wilmington

On the outskirts of Wilmington on the site of the first DuPont powder works, is the Hagley Museum, an outdoor museum on 230 acres. While there is the home of E.I. du Pont, the first du Pont family home, to visit, the outstanding attractions of this museum are the waterworks and black powder works, which stretch along 2 miles of the Brandywine River. From the visitors’ center there is a shuttle bus that takes you along the route and stops at various points of interest. (302-658-2400) Wilmington is also home to Nemours Mansion and Gardens. This Louis XVI-style château built in 1909 was the home of Alfred I. du Pont. Its 102 rooms are filled with European antiques and art and its extensive gardens present one of the best examples of French-style gardens in America. (302-651-6912)