Rockwood Park & Museum

Rockwood Park & Museum Joseph Shipley, a Quaker merchant banker, built Rockwood between 1851 and 1854. This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Its Gothic Revival architecture and enchanting landscape were designed to reflect the beauty of an English country estate. Explore the grandeur, history, and beauty of Rockwood Park & Museum

From its Washington Street Extension entrance, Rockwood is a picturesque 72-acre public park just two miles from Wilmington, Delaware’s city center. Features include a picnic grove, festival grounds, urban wi

ldlife habitat, pet-friendly parkland, and some of Delaware’s best walking paths - linking to the Northern Delaware Greenway. The park has lighted walking trails, and free parking and is open dawn to dusk, daily without charge. Pass the entrance gates and the park transforms into one of the area’s oldest and grandest country estates. This collection of historic farmlands, now forested retreat, is crowned with a six-acre fantasy garden and is among America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions. Conceived and built by Joseph Shipley in the 1850s, Rockwood Park & Museum was designed to reflect his love of exotic horticulture, fine arts and antiques, fashionable architecture, and English gardens. Today, the mansion and heritage garden reveal highlights of Rockwood’s storied past through guided and self-guided specialty tours. Little has changed over the 120 years that Shipley and his descendants lived at Rockwood and the tours help describe its glamorous owners, diverse workforce, multi-generational collections from around the globe, historic house design, and even its paranormal activity! In addition, Rockwood’s staff also offers wellness, family, fine art, nature, and performing art programs year-round. And Rockwood’s historic Carriage House now hosts one of the area’s premier event venues. The mission of the site - owned, maintained, and operated by New Castle County - is to serve residents and visitors through education and recreation, while preserving and maintaining the historic 19th Century mansion, its collections, and grounds. Park & Museum office: Rockwood.org
Private event office: Rockwoodcarriagehouse.com

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Hours of Operation
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Park Hours:
Open Dawn till Dusk

Park & Museum Office Hours:
Mon-Sat, 10 am – 4pm
Sun, 12 – 4 pm

Museum Hours:
Thu-Sat, 10 am – 4 pm
Sun, 12 – 4 pm

FREE FIRST SUNDAYS, 12-4pm

ROCKWOOD'S SELF-GUIDED TOURS
$10, $8 NCC Residents, $2 Art-Reach Member, FREE for RPPS Members
Thu - Sat | 10-4 pm
Sun | 12-4 pm
We have heard the call and proud to offer a new self-guided alternative to enjoy Rockwood your own way. This tour is open to the first floor of the museum, but don’t worry, staff will be nearby to answer any questions! Reservations suggested but walk-ins are welcome. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. GUIDED MUSEUM TOURS
90-minute guided tour, $10NR, $8R, $2 Art-Reach Member; FREE for RPPS Members
Fri | 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm
Sat | 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm
Explore the grandeur, history and beauty of the Rockwood Mansion, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years. This tour emphasizes the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there. Reservations are suggested. Tour involves stairs. All ages.

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🌈✨ Just two days to go until Rockwood Pride! ✨🌈Join us Friday, June 12, from 6–11 PM for an evening filled with music, c...
06/10/2026

🌈✨ Just two days to go until Rockwood Pride! ✨🌈

Join us Friday, June 12, from 6–11 PM for an evening filled with music, color, creativity, and community. Celebrate Pride with friends, family, and neighbors at New Castle County's biggest Pride celebration!

🏳️‍🌈 Due to the weather forecast, festivities will take place inside the beautiful Carriage House at Rockwood Park & Museum, so the celebration is on rain or shine!

🎤 Live performance by Be Steadwell
🎧 Beats by DJ Raven de la Noir
💃 Fierce drag performances
🎨 Art, games, museum experiences, and plenty of good vibes

📍 Rockwood Park & Museum – Carriage House
🗓 Friday, June 12
⏰ 6–11 PM

This event is FREE and open to all ages, so come as you are and celebrate with us! 🌟

🌈 Register today and don't miss the fun (registration is not required) :
https://ow.ly/elz750ZagHS

Who's ready for an unforgettable night at Rockwood? 💜

DO YOU NEED TO EARN SERVICE HOURS THIS SUMMER. Volunteer at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park on Jun...
06/10/2026

DO YOU NEED TO EARN SERVICE HOURS THIS SUMMER. Volunteer at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park on June 27! This is a great opportunity to earn service hours! Opportunities are available to assist with the ticketing gate, family games and activities, event setup and cleanup and more! Volunteer today at https://tinyurl.com/ICFvolunteer2026

06/09/2026

Don and Rick of Superstar DJs really know how to bring the FUN! They'll have you hula hooping, cup stacking, playing musical chairs, and so much more at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on June 27. People of all ages will enjoy the games, music and prizes. This is what family fun is all about. You can find them on South Lawn (rear of the Mansion) from 1-9pm. (Attached video provided by Don and Rick, from Sleep Under the Stars at carousel Park)

Check out the full schedule of events and buy your tickets at www.newcastlede.gov/icf

🌟 Pride is popping off at Rockwood! 🌟Get ready for music, color, and community at Rockwood Pride!When: Friday, June 12th...
06/09/2026

🌟 Pride is popping off at Rockwood! 🌟
Get ready for music, color, and community at Rockwood Pride!
When: Friday, June 12th | 6–11 PM Where: Rockwood Park & Museum, Wilmington DE
Expect:
• Powerful live set from Be Steadwell
• Beats by DJ Raven de la Noir
• Fierce drag performances
• Art, games, museum vibes & good energy
This is New Castle County’s big Pride celebration and it’s free + open to all ages!
Let us know if you’re coming! 💃🕺
Sign up and don’t miss the fun today!
https://ow.ly/WfFO50Z9oKl

There’s more than just ice cream at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on June 27! Enjoy dirty sodas, sweet lemonade, ...
06/08/2026

There’s more than just ice cream at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on June 27! Enjoy dirty sodas, sweet lemonade, candy fruit, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, frozen coffee drinks, donuts, and plenty of other delicious treats from 1–9 PM at Rockwood Park.

Dessert vendors include:
Desserts by Dana
DonutNV
Give Me Some Sugar
Hcreate Inc.
Little Connie's Kettle Corn
Madi LLC
Maryann's Sweet Treats
Mila's Sparkly Wonders
Philly Funnel Cake
Sharron's Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee

️Buy your festival tickets today:
https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/newcastle/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzQ%3D
📍 Food vendor lineup subject to change.

We're in the summertime state of mind dreaming of the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on June 27 at Rockwood Park! Tick...
06/07/2026

We're in the summertime state of mind dreaming of the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on June 27 at Rockwood Park!

Tickets are on sale now! This quintessential summertime festival features your local ice cream favorites, food trucks, entertainment, live local music, fireworks, and more.

Buy your tickets now for the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park on June 27 from 1-9pm, followed by Fireworks brought to you by Always Best Care of Delaware at: events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/newcastle/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50Lzc%3D

HELP US CREATE THE PERFECT EVENT AND EARN SERVICE HOURS. Volunteer at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood P...
06/06/2026

HELP US CREATE THE PERFECT EVENT AND EARN SERVICE HOURS. Volunteer at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park on June 27! It is a great opportunity to earn service hours! Opportunities are available to assist with the ticketing gate, family games and activities, event setup and cleanup and more! 4 hour shifts. Volunteer today at https://tinyurl.com/ICFvolunteer2026

Guinness World Record Holder & Ripley’s Believe It or Not! TV personality Jungle John, along with “Wally Gator” the Amer...
06/05/2026

Guinness World Record Holder & Ripley’s Believe It or Not! TV personality Jungle John, along with “Wally Gator” the American alligator, “Larry” the boa constrictor and his other “friends” are coming back to the at the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on June 27.
Jungle John will be performing two shows: the Jungle John Show is fun and entertaining and includes the animals above plus 1-2 more! And the Jungle John’s Man-Eating Balloon Show includes a mind-reading rabbit, a floating table and a lucky volunteer “transformed” into a duck! For the grand finale, Jungle John climbs inside a giant 6' round balloon. This show is popping with fun!

Check out the full schedule of events and buy your tickets at www.newcastlede.gov/icf

06/03/2026

The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is five festivals in one!
🍴 local food festival
🎵local music festival
🛍️craft festival
😁 family fun festival
🙌community festival

🍦 Sat., June 27, 1-9pm, Rockwood Park, Wilmington

All made possible by our generous donors: Always Best Care of Delaware, DART First State, ChristianaCare Union Hospital, Delaware Online, Rockwood Park Preservation Society

Buy your tickets today at: www.newcastlede.gov/icf

Address

4651 Washington Street Extension
Wilmington, DE
19809

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13027614340

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