Hagley Museum and Library
A restored mid-19th-century mill community on 235 landscaped acres along the Brandywine River, the Hagley Museum and Library provides an enlightening look at the development of early industrial America and the du Pont family's role in it. This is the site of the first of the family's black-powder mills (founded 1802), family estate, and gardens. A visitor center provides historical context and some DuPont Company history, and live demonstrations depict the dangerous work of the early explosives industry. Admission includes a narrated bus tour through the powder yards with stops at Eleutherian Mills, the 1803 Georgian-style home furnished by five generations of du Ponts (guided tour of house included); Workers' Hill, where costumed interpreters describe the life of a typical mill worker; demonstrations in a machine shop and power yard; and a French Renaissance–style garden.
Be prepared for some walking and allow a minimum of two hours for your visit, which can include tours and self-guided exploration.
