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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06/03/2026

The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is five festivals in one!
🍴 local food festival
🎵local music festival
🛍️craft festival
😁 family fun festival
🙌community festival

🍦 Sat., June 27, 1-9pm, Rockwood Park, Wilmington

All made possible by our generous donors: Always Best Care of Delaware, DART First State, ChristianaCare Union Hospital, Delaware Online, Rockwood Park Preservation Society

Buy your tickets today at: www.newcastlede.gov/icf

VOLUNTEER AT THE ICE CREAM FESTIVAL AT ROCKWOOD PARK ON JUNE 27! The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is a great opportu...
06/02/2026

VOLUNTEER AT THE ICE CREAM FESTIVAL AT ROCKWOOD PARK ON JUNE 27!

The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is a great opportunity to earn service hours! Opportunities are available to assist with the ticketing gate, family games and activities, event setup and cleanup and more! 4 hours shifts. Volunteer today at https://tinyurl.com/ICFvolunteer2026

06/01/2026

The Ice Cream Festival is a little under a month away on June 27 at Rockwood Park and tickets are on sale now! 🍦

The Ice Cream Festival features your local ice cream favorites, food trucks, entertainment, toe-tapping music, fireworks presented by Always Best Care Senior Services and more. Buy your tickets now at: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/newcastle/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50Lzc%3D

06/01/2026

Wilmington is pretty amazing.

Americans in History Opening Reception: June 5, 5-7pm, Christiana H.S., Newark To highlight Rockwood’s 50th Anniversary ...
05/29/2026

Americans in History Opening Reception: June 5, 5-7pm, Christiana H.S., Newark

To highlight Rockwood’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of this American treasure house, join us for a free reception at Christiana H.S. for a student exhibition. Discover art that connects students with important people and ideas of the past. Free. All ages.

Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/nccde/activity/search/detail/25191

This is going to be amazing! I am opening this event up for free-just do not miss it! Respond if you want to come!
05/29/2026

This is going to be amazing! I am opening this event up for free-just do not miss it! Respond if you want to come!

"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].

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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