What to do and see in Hockessin, United States: The Best Places and Tips

Once a Du Pont family country retreat, this estate's spectacular gardens surround a 175-room mansion housing the world's finest collection of American decorative arts from 1640-1860.

In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,077 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ and 4.5-acre conservatory. Longwood continues the mission set forth by Mr. du Pont to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education and the performing arts, through programming that includes exhibitions, musical performances by leading artists, renowned horticulture education programs, horticulture research, environmental stewardship and community engagement.

Hagley is the former industrial site of the original black powder works of the DuPont Company founded in Delaware in 1802 and powdered by the natural resources that surrounded it. Today it is 235 acres of wooded rolling hills along the rushing Brandywine River dotted with hundreds of stone ruins of the black powder industry, dozens of restored buildings associated with the business, and the first du Pont family home built in America. Here, for more than 200 years, the DuPont Company and family experimented, innovated, and pursued the American Dream. Hagley has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1972. The site is a National Historic Landmark, National Recreation Trail, and a Historic Engineering Landmark.

Auburn Heights Preserve is part of Delaware State Parks. The site features a Victorian mansion that is fully antique furnished, hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, scenic views, and much more! The property also houses the Marshall Steam Museum, operated by the Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve, which contains the world's largest collection of operating steam automobiles. For full details, please visit our website.

The Delaware Museum of Natural History opened to the public in 1972 to excite and inform people about the natural world through exploration and discovery. As the only natural history museum in the state, the Museum welcomes more than 75,000 visitors each year to experience an African watering hole, gaze up at a giant squid, encounter a jaguar face-to-face, and marvel at the diversity of shells from around the globe. Gallery highlights also include the only permanent dinosaur collection in Delaware, a simulated coral reef, and a Science in Action paleontology lab. Throughout the year, the Museum also hosts several special exhibits on national tour.

Discover an outstanding collection of American art, including works by N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, housed in a historic grist mill with glass-walled lobbies overlooking the scenic Brandywine. During the holiday season, experience the extensive O-gauge model train display, one of the largest in the country, with five trains running simultaneously on nearly 2,000 feet of track. Enjoy guided tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, the N.C. Wyeth House and Studio and Kuerner Farm (April to mid-November). Museum shop and cafe.

Ashland Nature Center serves as the Delaware Nature Society’s headquarters and the hub for its education and natural resource conservation activities. The site is open to the public year-round, features an overnight lodge for school and public groups, a seasonal butterfly house, picnic area and four self-guided trails through a variety of habitats. Free and low-cost programs are offered for all ages. Enjoy the Ashland Hawk Watch during the fall raptor migration.