Delaware was one of the first settled areas of the “New World,” so it’s kind of surprising that many of the original homes and estates from the 1600s and 1700s are still standing today. Not many things last that long! These historic homes in Delaware are worth visiting to learn about the history of the First State. There are also the DuPont mansions – which, while they aren’t as old, are extravagant examples of the legacy the DuPont Family has left on the state of Delaware. Have you been to any of these houses?

1. Winterthur Mansion, Wilmington
5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807, USA
Flickr / Jane Dickson
The Winterthur Mansion is the best historic home in Delaware for families to explore. The art collections are impressive, and the grounds feature an enchanted fairy trail forest that children will enjoy. The Mansion itself is a DuPont Home, dating back to 1837.
2. Cannonball House, Lewes
118 Front St, Lewes, DE 19958, USA
Flickr / Mike Mahaffie
The (probably haunted) Cannonball House in Lewes has been around since the 1760s. It's worn many different hats (roofs?) over the years, as it was once a restaurant, laundromat, pub, and the Mayor of Lewes' office, even. Currently, the historic building is the home of The Lewes Historical Society's maritime museum, which is absolutely worth a visit. While you're there, see if you can find the cannonball that's still lodged in the wall.
3. Eleutherian Mills, Wilmington
298 Buck Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807, USA
Flickr / Peter Miller
The beautiful historic Eleutherian Mills on the hill looking out over the mills at the Hagley Estate was the first Du Pont family home in America, acquired and built in the first few years of the 19th century. Visitors today get to explore the home, gardens, and artifacts left from the gunpowder mill that brought the DuPonts their initial fame and fortune.
4. Nemours, Wilmington
Alapocas Drive South & Delaware 141, Alapocas Dr S & DE-141, Delaware 19803, USA
Flickr / Peter Miller
Explore 300 acres of sprawling, gorgeous gardens and meticulously maintained land at Nemours, which was the creation of Alfred I. duPont. The large reflecting pool and fountain is one of the most beautiful scenes in all of Delaware. The Nemours Mansion is open for tours now, too - it's designed in a unique French style, unlike anything you've ever seen.
5. Amstel House, New Castle
East 4th Street, E 4th St, New Castle, DE 19720, USA
Flickr / Dan
The Amstel House is one of the oldest buildings in historic New Castle. It was built in the 1730s by Dr. John Finney. You'll be able to see the original woodwork if you tour the house, and you can appreciate the open hearth and all of the details that were put into making an extravagant mansion.

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6. Historic Homes of Odessa
201 Main St, Odessa, DE 19730, USA
Flickr / Lee Cannon
Odessa, originally called Cantwell's Bridge, is one of the oldest towns in lower Delaware. The town takes pride in its history, and there are 5 historic homes on 20 acres that maintain the colonial feel. The entire area includes the yards and outbuildings, which are certainly interesting! You can find tours and events occurring year round.
7. John Dickinson House, Dover
340 Kitts Hummock Rd, Dover, DE 19901, USA
Flickr / denisbin
John Dickinson was a signer of the Constitution and a very important part of the American Revolution. Learn about the beginnings of the nation as you explore the John Dickinson House, dating back to 1740.
8. Hale-Byrnes House, Newark
606 Stanton Christiana Rd, Newark, DE 19702, USA
Facebook / Hale Byrnes House
The Hale-Byrnes House in Newark was an important meetinghouse during the American Revolution. It dates back to 1750, with an additon being built in 1773. The Council of War met here just before the Battle of the Brandywine, in September of 1777.
9. Governor Ross Mansion, Seaford
23669 Ross Station Rd, Seaford, DE 19973, USA
Facebook / Marilyn's Catering
The Governor Ross Mansion will take you back to some of the darker days in Delaware's history - before the civil war, when slavery was common in the state. Despite the uncomfortable history, a tour of the Governor Ross Mansion is one of the better tours in Delaware. You'll be able to explore a well preserved mansion complete with slave quarters, a couple of barns, and lots of artifacts from when it was a working plantation. The most interesting part of the tour will explain to you why one of the most popular Delaware governors had a Federal Warrant out for his arrest, and instead of facing authorities, was smuggled to England.
10. Joseph T. Adams House, Georgetown
12 E Pine St, Georgetown, DE 19947, USA
Wikimedia Commons / Smallbones
Georgetown has an interesting history, and the governing bodies of the town shuffled from office to office for almost two hundred years before the town purchased the Adams house for itself. It was built in 1868, and features elaborate Italianate style details and columns. In 1957, the house was acquired by the Georgetown town offices, finally giving them a permanent home, which it had been lacking since its establishment in 1791.

Do you want to learn more about Delaware’s unique history? Read our list of 9 Things You Didn’t Know About The History Of Delaware, and connect with your state’s past! Which small, historic towns in Delaware do you find the most intriguing? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

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More to Explore

Historic Homes in Delaware

Tori Jane | July 31, 2022

What are some notable historic mansions in Delaware?  

Delaware is home to some beautiful homes and mansions, but many of those mansions are legitimately historic! Some of the most notable historic mansions in Delaware include such crown jewels as the Hagley Museum and Library, which is where the famed DuPont Company began. You can tour the home and learn its history; the company was founded back in 1802. Another notable famous mansion in Delaware is the Nemours Mansion and Garden, built by another DuPont in the early 1900s. Finally, you can’t miss a look at the Read House and Gardens, a 22-room Federal style mansion.  

Which Delaware mansions can I tour?  

The Nemours offers tours to guests from Tuesday through Sunday. There is no timed entry, and you can purchase tickets at the mansion itself. Another fascinating (and spellbinding) mansion to tour in Delaware is the Cannonball House, in Lewes. It’s not as extravagant as some of the others, but it’s just as historically relevant as any other. It’s been around since the 1760s (!!!!) and to this day, should you visit, you might just spot a cannonball wedged in the wall that’s been there since, well, forever. You may also tour the old Amstel House, which was built in the 1730s and is explorable from April through December. You’ll find it in New Castle, Delaware.  

What are some fascinating historic homes in Delaware?  

Of course, the list doesn’t end with any of those. Delaware is a very old state with centuries of history; as a result, you’re sure to find all kinds of historic homes in Delaware to check out. In Smyrna, you’ll find the Belmont Hall, which was built in 1773. In Dover, check out the John Dickinson Plantation, In Odessa, you’ll find entire blocks of amazing historic homes, complete with breathtaking, well-kept gardens and all the history you can handle.  

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