Hagley Museum and Library
Wilmington, DE · 1 hour 20 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person
Plan the day
Hagley Museum and Library is the site of the original DuPont powder yards in Wilmington, DE: 235 acres with the historic powder yard, the Nation of Inventors exhibition, and the Eleutherian Mills residence and its gardens.
Daily demonstrations in the powder yard show how the mills worked, with cannon firings on dated afternoons (October 25 and November 7, 1 to 3 PM), and shuttles link the Visitor Center, the powder yard and the Eleutherian Mills residence, where guided tours run 45 minutes to an hour. Science Saturdays and Halloween at Hagley come with admission, and most guests spend two to three hours on the grounds.
Before you go
Use the museum entrance at 200 Hagley Creek Road, not the library entrance on Buck Road; parking near the Visitor Center is free. Arrive before 3 PM, since last entry is 4 PM. Paths are gravel and uneven in places; wheelchair-accessible shuttles link the Visitor Center, the powder yard and the residence.
Coming up
Science Saturday Seeds the Day October 10, the Hagley Craft Fair October 17 and 18, Halloween at Hagley trick-or-treating with Creepy Chemistry October 24 (11 AM to 3 PM), cannon firings October 25 and November 7 (1 to 3 PM), Science Saturday Robotics Roundup November 14 and Frosty Forces December 12.
Checked October 8, 2026 on the official site. Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm there before a long drive.
