Nine Ways to Explore Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delaware

Nicknamed the “Versailles of the Brandywine Valley”, Nemours Estate is the 77 room mansion that Alfred I. duPont built for his second wife, Alicia, between 1909-1910. Nemours is also home to the largest French formal garden in North America. (Guests can learn all about the 10 design elements of a French garden on the tram tour). Alfred I. duPont was the great grandson of E. I. du Pont, founder of the DuPont Company, which began in Wilmington in the early 1800s.

The family collected artwork, furniture, and experiments in advancements in technology on display throughout the mansion, which welcomes guests to take self guided tours of all three floors. There are docents available throughout each floor to answer questions and share anecdotes about the du Pont family.

After duPont’s death in 1935 and per his will, a charitable trust was established to create a network of health care services and hospitals for children. The first Institute opened in Wilmington in 1940 and today there are dozens of Nemours Children’s Health facilities from Pennsylvania to Florida. 

duPont also wanted to preserve his estate for the public to enjoy. Nemours Estate opened to the public in  1977. The original estate was over 3,000 acres, but today encompasses 300 acres, divided into three areas: the hospital and grounds, the mansion and gardens, and natural woodlands. The property includes seven interconnected ponds and over 200 acres of gardens.

Nemours continues to be a stunningly beautiful estate that welcomes visitors from around the world each year to explore the grounds, mansion, carriage house, and learn all about the Wilmington area and the duPont family. And if you’re looking for more adventures in Wilmington, check out our full City Guide here. 

Note for 2024: The Sunken Gardens are under restoration. When we visited in April of 2024, the fountains had not been filled for the season (but we hear they are beautiful when they are filled). 

Travel Tips:

Nine Things for Kids to Do at Nemours:

1. Take the Garden Loop tram tour of the property. Tram tours run every hour on weekdays and every 30 minutes on the weekends.The enclosed tram seats approximately 18 people, so be sure to line up by the benches near the 18th century French gates (to the left of the mansion) 5-10 minutes before departure time. 
2. While on the tram tour, try to count the number of maple trees that line the main entrance (hint: there are close to 100!). Also search for:
   1. Seven gnomes, over 120 years old, hidden throughout the garden (the gardeners move them every week!)
   2. Two cannons from the USS Constitution that duPont bought and had moved to the property. 
   3. The Wren’s Nest, used as a playhouse for children in the 1920s
   4. The original Greenhouse, dating back to 1909, used to grow herbs, shrubs, plants, and flowers for the estate. It’s still in use today!
   5. A display of farm equipment from the 1800s. 
3. Listen for the 3 bells that chime from the Carillon Tower, built to honor duPont’s parents. The bells, located just outside the estate gates on the hospital campus, ring every 15 minutes, and in celebration of duPont’s birthday on May 12th, play “Happy Birthday”. Members of the duPont family are buried under the tower. 

4. Peak through the Temple of Love, which displays the 1780 sculpture of Diana the Huntress, to have the best straight lined view to the mansion.
5. Find four figurines at the corners of the Reflecting Pool, symbolizing the four seasons. The one acre reflecting pool used to be five feet deep and was used for swimming in the summer and as an ice skating rink in the winter by the duPont children. Nowadays, over 150 jets shoot water as high as 12 feet when the pool is filled (from June through September).  
6. Walk through the Colonnade, built in 1926 to honor duPont’s great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather and then through the Maze Garden. Check out the 12 foot statue of man and woman, covered in real, 23 carat gold leaf. 

7. Take a hike on Woodland Trails through the hillsides and look out for natural springs and concrete pools.
8. Tour three floors of the mansion. The 1910, 47,00 square feet mansion has seven bedrooms (each with their own bathroom!). Children will enjoy our version of “I Spy” while touring the mansion- see our version here. Highlights of the mansion that children will enjoy include the bowling alley in the lower level, the dining room, and choosing a favorite bedroom.
9. Choose a favorite vintage car from the collection of five cars in the Chauffeur’s Garage. The garage was built in 1914, with an addition added a decade later, and was home to duPont’s personal chauffeur and his family. Cars on display include 1951 and 1960 Rolls Royce, a 1933 Buick Coupe, 1921 and 1924 Cadillacs, and even a train table to engage children. 

If you’re looking for more adventures in Wilmington, check out our full City Guide here, and our features of Winterthur, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, and Hagley Museum and Library

Disclosure: Our family was given a media pass to explore the Nemours Estate. All opinions expressed are my own.