Plan Your Visit
Plan your visit to the Delaware Historical Society today!
The Delaware History Museum, Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, and Research Library & Archives will be closed on Friday, May 30 for Ladybug Music Festival.
The Delaware Historical Society Research Library & Archives will be closed from May 29 – June 20 as we make final preparations to reveal the building’s newly restored facade and refreshed reading room. We will resume normal operations on June 23, 2025.
Delaware History Muesum
504 N Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 656-0637
WED – SAT
12 pm – 5 pm
SUN – TUE
Closed
Read House & Gardens
42 The Strand,
New Castle, Delaware 19720
(302) 322-8411
THURS – SUN
11 am – 4 pm
MON – WED
Closed
Interior Tours begin on the hour.
The last tour begins at 3 p.m.
Garden Hours:
Open year-round, Dawn until Dusk
Mitchell Center for African American Heritage
504 N Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19801
Located inside the Delaware History Museum
(302) 656-0637
Wednesday–Saturday
12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Included with Admission to the Delaware History Museum
Research Library & Archives
505 N Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19801
Accessible through Willingtown Square
(302) 656-0637
MON, TUE, THU, FRI
9 am – 1 pm
WED, SAT, SUN
Closed
Open every third Saturday of the month, excluding December, from 10 am – 4 pm.
No fee for admission. Research service fees may apply.
Old Town Hall
504 N Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19801
Accessible by glass connector inside the Delaware History Museum
(302) 656-0637
WED – SAT
12 pm – 5 pm
SUN – TUE
Closed
Included with Admission to the Delaware History Museum
Willingtown Square
505 N Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19801
Directly across the street from the Delaware History Museum
(302) 656-0637
DAILY
12 pm – 5 pm
The buildings that make up the square can be viewed from the outside but are not open to the public.
Location & Parking
Delaware History Museum | Mitchell Center for African American Heritage | Old Town Hall
504 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Research Library | Willingtown Square
505 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
The entrance to the Research Library is through Willingtown Square.
To find directions using a GPS navigation app, please use the address of where you plan to park.
Street, lot, and garage parking available.
Parking Options Within One Mile
Limited metered parking is available within walking distance of the museum. There are two (2) meters designated for handicapped parking on each side of Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets. Metered parking is free after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
Free customer parking is also available after 5 p.m. and on weekends at Colonial Parking’s Lot 43, at the corner of 5th & Orange Streets (entrance on Orange Street), thanks to a partnership with Downtown Visions, Colonial Parking, the City of Wilmington, and the Buccini Pollin Group.
| Lot Name | Address | Distance to Museum | Price | Hours |
| Customs House/Courthouse Square | 700 King St, Wilmington, DE 19801 | 0.2 miles | $11 max daily rate | Garage open 24 hours 7 days a week |
| Train Station Garage | 117 E Martin Luther King Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19801 | 0.3 miles | $12 max daily rate | Open 24 hours 7 days a week |
| 8th Street Lot | 801 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801 | 0.3 miles | $9 max daily rate | Lot Attended 8am – 8pm |
| 10th Street Garage | 1001 Washinton St, Wilmington, DE 19801 | 0.6 miles | $12 max daily rate | Attended 10:15am – 8:00pm |
| Corporate Plaza Garage | 700 Delaware Ave, Wilmington, DE 19801 | 0.9 miles | $10 max daily rate | Garage Attended: 8am – 8pm M-F |
For more information, visit Wilmington Parking Authority’s website.
Location & Parking
Read House & Gardens
42 the Strand, New Castle, DE 19720
If arriving by car, parking is free and available along the Strand and throughout Historic New Castle.
If you are coming by bus, your group must load/unload at the bus loading zone at the southeast corner of 2nd and Harmony Streets. The bus may then park in the lot on 4th and Chestnut Streets. Buses are not permitted on the Strand for any reason.
For more information, visit readhouseandgardens.org.
The City of Wilmington is proud to be a National World War II Heritage City, a designation that recognizes the City’s contributions on the home front during WWII and its commitment to preserving the history of its efforts.
Between May and September, you can visit the Delaware Historical Society and the Read House & Gardens, plus ten of the most popular attractions in the Brandywine valley, for a discounted price with the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport!
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