Photo: Saturday, Hagley Museum reopens following presevation work over the past two weeks.

All major areas of the museum will again be accessible following improvements to the mill race, Millwright Shop and surrounding industrial landscape.

WILMINGTON, Del. — Hagley Museum and Library’s historic Powder Yard has reopened to the public following the completion of a two-week preservation and maintenance project.

The reopening will restore visitor access to all major areas of the museum, including its industrial landscape, waterpower system, mill race and historic shops along the Brandywine.

The Powder Yard had been temporarily closed while contractors completed projects that required heavy equipment, road closures and unrestricted access to parts of the property. The rest of the museum remained open during the work, with Hagley offering half-price admission because one of its principal attractions was unavailable.

With the Powder Yard reopened, the temporary discount has ended and regular admission prices have resumed.

Maintenance protects historic landscape

One of the project’s most significant components involved dredging the mill race inlet to remove accumulated silt and debris and improve water flow into Hagley’s historic power system.

The mill race directed water from the Brandywine to waterwheels that powered machinery throughout the original du Pont powder works. Maintaining that system helps visitors understand how waterpower supported early American manufacturing.

Crews also replaced the roof on the Millwright Shop and stabilized masonry along portions of the mill race. Those improvements are intended to protect the historic structures against weather, erosion and further deterioration.

Hazardous trees were removed from the Powder Yard and Crowninshield areas to improve safety, while additional preventive maintenance was coordinated across the industrial section of the property.

The temporary closure allowed the museum to complete the projects efficiently while protecting visitors, employees and contractors.

Full museum experience returns

Visitors will once again be able to tour the Powder Yard and walk through the industrial center of the former powder-making operation. The area includes historic mills, shops and the waterpower infrastructure that supported manufacturing along the Brandywine for generations.  This weekend, the cannons will be fired on Saturday afternoon, the 250th Anniversary Tours will resume at 11:00 and 1:00, and fishing on the banks of the Brandywine is open between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Eleutherian Mills, the du Pont family’s first American home, and its gardens are also open. That portion of the museum offers a more personal look at the family’s early life in Delaware and its connection to the business developing nearby.

The “Nation of Inventors” exhibition remains open at the Visitor Center. Drawing on Hagley’s extensive collections, the interactive exhibition examines how inventors recognize problems, develop ideas, and create products and technologies.

The Visitor Center and Museum Store are also open.

A site central to Delaware history

Hagley is the site of the original du Pont powder works, founded along the Brandywine in 1802 by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont.

The business developed into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of black powder and became the foundation of the DuPont company. Its growth influenced Delaware’s economy, workforce and identity for generations.

The property was more than a factory. It became an industrial community where immigrant workers and their families lived, worked and built connections that helped shape Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley.

Today, Hagley preserves the mills, mill race, waterpower system, machine shops, workers’ history and du Pont family home that together tell the story of early American industry.

Its importance extends beyond the du Pont legacy. The property demonstrates how waterpower, engineering, labor, immigration, family life and entrepreneurship converged during the country’s industrial development.

The completed maintenance work helps protect that landscape while allowing visitors to experience Delaware history in the place where much of it happened.

To Go Box:

• What: Hagley Museum and Library
• Status: The historic Powder Yard will reopen, and all major museum areas are accessible on Saturday.
• What to see: Powder Yard, historic mills and shops, mill race and waterpower system, Eleutherian Mills and gardens, “Nation of Inventors” exhibition, Visitor Center and Museum Store.
• Admission: Regular admission pricing will resume Saturday.
• Location: 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington
• Learn more: Visit hagley.org.

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