Rockwood Park & Museum

Joseph Shipley, a Quaker merchant banker, built Rockwood between 1851 and 1854. Its Gothic Revival architecture and enchanting landscape were designed to reflect the beauty of an English country estate.

The museum reflects the way the Bringhurst family, descendants of Shipley, lived during the turn of the 20th century.

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  1. Thu Jan. 20

    Tiny Trails at Rockwood Park Come and enjoy all the different treasures ofRockwood! Tiny Trails is an informal class for toddlers to explore the most popular themes of this unique park and museum. Always changing, this program will celebrate kids’ literature, costume, gardening, animals, architecture, the arts, and much more. All materials are included. Rain or shine event. Ages 1-5. Masks required inside.

  2. Thu Jan. 20

    Rockwood's Watercolors in the Museum Participants of all backgrounds and abilities will work in graphite and watercolor inside RockwoodMuseum’s famed interior galleries to draw inspiration from the important architectural features, vibrant decorations, and unforgettable art collections to compose their own artful compositions. No experience is required. Masks required. Ages 16-Adults

  3. Fri Jan. 21

    Touring Rockwood's Botanical Collection Join Rockwood staff within one of America’s oldest attached conservatories to discuss the characteristics and unique origins of the plants collected there. Many of these plants were popularized in America and Europe through global colonization efforts by Western powers. When available, more information will be provided about the 19th-century plant specimens originally collected by the Conservatory’s first owner, JosephShipley, an amateur botanist. Masks required. Ages 16-Adults

  4. Fri Jan. 21

    Candlelight Tour at Rockwood Museum At night, Rockwood changes from the garden pleasure villa of the day into a romantic stage for glimmering surfaces and sumptuous textures. Despite the modern conveniences with which the mansion was built, including bright gas-powered lighting, the families that lived there often preferred the soft drama of candlelight. This tour allows visitors to experience the museum's interiors in the way they were intended. All ages. Masks required.

  5. Tue Jan. 25

    Flow Yoga Outdoor Flow Yoga with instructor Mary Ann Quinn Hendrix. Come for an hour of fun and relaxation at Rockwood Park and learn the art of Flow Yoga. Program is offered every Tuesday at 9 am. Program will be offered outdoors by the Museum Conservatory, weather permitting, however, this activity will be held rain or shine. Please bring a mat, blocks, towel, water. Ages 16-Adults

  6. Thu Jan. 27

    Vespertine Domesticity: Lighting of the Industrial Age (Pt. 1) This two-part lecture focuses on the history of artificial illumination within the home and civic buildings. The first focuses on lighting technologies and the interiors they brightened before the Industrial Revolution. Special attention will be placed on those novel lighting techniques that were retained for use during Rockwood’s early years, followed by a discussion of ways that they can be returned to dramatize those interiors today. The second focuses on post-Industrial Revolutionlighting. Special attention will be placed on the artforms that emerged in response to new lighting opportunities, followed by a discussion of ways that they can be better represented in Rockwoodnow. Bring a snack or bagged dinner. Masks required. All ages

  7. Sat Jan. 29

    The Trail Ends Here! At Rockwood Park Each month, Rockwood partners with the BrandywineHundred Library to foster reading and charge imaginations through TRAIL TALES, putting books in nature. On two Saturdays a month, museum staff and volunteers read this featured book or another popular title and follow it up with a related activity or craft. All materials are included. Rain or shine event. Masks required inside. Ages 5+.

  8. Tue Feb. 1

    Flow Yoga Outdoor Flow Yoga with instructor Mary Ann Quinn Hendrix. Come for an hour of fun and relaxation at Rockwood Park and learn the art of Flow Yoga. Program is offered every Tuesday at 9 am. Program will be offered outdoors by the Museum Conservatory, weather permitting, however, this activity will be held rain or shine. Please bring a mat, blocks, towel, water. Ages 16-Adults
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Rockwood Tour Tickets

Contact Us

  1. Rockwood Park & Museum

    Physical Address
    4651 Washington Street Extension
    Wilmington, DE 19802

    Phone: (302) 761-4340

  2. Facility Rentals

    Mansion, Garden, and Conservatory Rentals
    Email
    Phone: (302) 761-4340
    More Information

Best of Delaware 2021 RW

Best of Delaware Editor's Pick
Walking Trails

National Register of Historic Places logo

National Register of Historic Places, Rockwood, New Castle County, Delaware, National Register #76000579.

Rockwood Park is a Certified Wildlife Habitat Certified by the National Wildlife Federation
Rockwood Park Preservation Society Logo

Accessibility

Although the west wing of the mansion is wheelchair accessible including accessible restrooms, please note that only a limited portion of the museum is wheelchair accessible. The main museum rooms are only accessible by stairs.