Nemours Estate Reviews

This recently renovated estate stands out from other mansions in that it felt warm and inviting -- a home (albeit an incredible home) instead of just a showplace. Be sure to take the shuttle garden tour and also the house tour. The docents love their work and love welcoming guests to Nemours. They were very knowledgeable.

Note that there are no eating options, cafes, or vending machines. Also, there is no gift shop.

My friend and I spend an entire day, first the gardens, self-tour of the mansion, then the Chauffer's Garage,
back to the Mansion for an escorted tour and then a drive thru the gardens. What a great day@

My husband and I went on a tour of Nemours Mansion and Gardens. The tour was fabulous. The visitor center offers easy parking making it easy to walk right in. Their visitor center is filled with short documentaries and exhibits that share interesting facts about Alfred DuPont and his wife. The tour bus drives you right to the estate gates. Nemours's
is one of the most famous French styled estates in the United States. The estate is decorated in authentic late -18th - century French decor. The estate gates previously belonged to a Russian Czar. The gates are trimmed in beautiful gold. ( the most spectacular gates I have ever seen) I think it was 22k gold. The chandelier in the dining room belonged to Marie Antoinnette. The extensive workmanship and luxurious interior is mind blowing. Alfred DuPont was a kind man who lived large but was kind and generous to everyone.( from wealthy to the impoverished) You will be impressed with his estate, gorgeous gardens, rare vehicles, work ethics and most of his legacy. The gardens are a work of art with
magnificent statues. The tour allows you to enjoy DuPont rare vehicles and other spectacular places of interest on the property. This is a must see for anyone of all ages. You will never forget it. A once in a lifetime tour! Wear comfortable shoes.

We found the grounds and mansion to be impressive along with feeling that the family had just left it to be enjoyed. We found all of the staff and docents more than willing to answer questions and provide a look into the way the Dupont family would have thought about it. You could easily spend a full day walking the grounds, but we were able to cover it all reasonably adequately in a 4 hrs. We were glad to hear about the Nemours estate is successful in giving back to the surrounding hospitals and how the legacy lives on. This is a truly a gem in the area and I would recommend it.

Luckily, we had a beautiful day to wander the grounds. We paid $21 each for senior passes and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The home and grounds are beyond beautiful: the statues, gates, furnishings, etc. all are top notch. I don't remember how long we were there, but if you walk the grounds, 2-3 hours is correct. It was well worth visiting and dreaming of luxury. It is kept up very well, which must cost a fortune for that. The docents/volunteers when you enter were very informative. Signs in each room also give history. We went on a Wednesday morning at opening, and it was not crowded at all.

Nemours Estate is a wonderful glimpse into the lifestyle of the Gilded Age! The mansion is dazzling, with a grand staircase, elegant furniture and artwork, and a surprise or two…like the private bowling alley in the basement! The gardens are very grand, with fountains, statues, and a colonnade, recalling the chateaus of Europe. You can go on a mini bus tour around the gardens, narrated with interesting information from the driver. The staff at Nemours are some of the friendliest I have encountered at any historic site, welcoming you with smiles and offering helpful commentary on the mansion and the DuPont family. There is a small, cute gift shop as well (which offered free bottled water to visitors on the hot day I was there!).

beautiful grounds, gorgeous mansion with a nice staff telling you stories in every room. very old school European Cars are awesome too.

Nemours is often overlooked in favor of Winterthur. It should not be. Friends and I added a tour of Nemours to a mid-week jaunt to Delaware and are so glad we did. The grounds and 70+room mansion were decked out for the holidays. Winterthur is a museum. Nemours is a home. Start with the tram ride through the estate then enjoy the self guided house tour. Friendly guides are stationed throughout the house to answer questions or share bits of information about the family. It was a lovely experience.

What an enjoyable day we had visiting the Nemours Mansion! The tours are in groups of 6-8, so it is very intimate. All of the tour guides are very knowledgeable about the family history, art work, and furnishings. So interesting to see it as a home of the DuPont family, not a museum. I would highly recommend a visit, and suggest joining a tour as you will glean so much information as you wander through the home and gardens.

Get a glimpse into the cushy lives of the DuPont rich and not so famous. The house and grounds are beautiful, interesting and well- maintained. A well spent morning or afternoon. Allow 3-4 hours

Amazing estate. The whole place is an architectural work of art inside and outside. There is a room that is like an indoor gazebo with incredible views of the grounds. We enjoyed our visit. Well worth it.

I had never heard of Nemours Estate before, but this was such an amazing find! The mansion was huge and had so many rooms to explore. I've visited a lot of historic homes, and this one is one of the most well done- there doesn't seem to be a single room in the mansion that you can't visit, and each area has different staff members stationed to give you information as you might be interested. They were all fantastic- such a great set up. The house was so interesting and there was so much to see! But the gardens were the best part! I must note, that as of August 2025, the gardens are very much under renovation- but just one area in the middle- there's still lots to enjoy, but I was disappointed to not be able to get the full effect of the gardens. What we could explore was so well done though. Truly a lovely experience!

We went on a Saturday where they had a lot of activities for kids. The ticket was also half price which was nice.
We watched a 15 minute video about Alfred Dupont which was very helpful in knowing and understanding the man.
The shuttle takes us from the visitor center to the mansion.
What a beautiful place! We enjoyed touring the whole house. It is self guided but in every area theres always a staff ready to answer questions or give you a back story in everything! The thing we noticed is everybody is very willing to answer, friendly and very well informed. Alfred Dupont was a visionary and well ahead of times. He thought of everything and it shows when you see what he did to his mansion which he personally supervise. We enjoyed walking and taking pictures in the gardens. There were food trucks and had our lunch in the gardens. There were s lot of families but it was never crowded. It was rather relaxing.
We spent a good 5 hours here and wished we had more time.

Formal, manicured gardens, and French opulence in the house. We did the tour, which was okay, but covered some things we weren't interested in (the generators, spring water bottling area, etc.) We may have preferred going through on our own; docents are available throughout to have answered any questions we might have had. By all means, take the tram tour through the garden to get up to the mansion, which was very pleasant. Surprisingly (and, perhaps, refreshingly), there is no gift shop. No cafe, either, so eat before you go. If you are seeing 3 or more sights in the area, look into getting the Brandywine Passport, which may save you some money on entrance fees.

2020 has had us looking for lots of new outdoor activities. You need to call and pay ahead of time for entry, but they have reduced the tickets to half-price since you are only visiting the gardens. If you want to see a ton of flowers, visit Longwood Gardens down the street. This is beautiful, but it is walking grounds with beautiful hardscaping, water features, ponds and beautiful trees. The grounds are really nice. The walking paths are nice and you can bring blankets and a picnic. We saw a few people doing that. There are bathrooms available on the grounds, not just port-a-potties, but real, clean bathrooms. (nicely done!) We can't wait to go back in the fall when the leaves are changing.

A don’t miss experience. The house and grounds are lovely. The guides are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have.

Beautiful classic home and grounds. When touring the house you feel as though you were in a French period chateau. Well worth the entrance fee. A great add on if visiting Longwood gardens, only 8 miles away.

This is what real money was like years ago. The entire property and house cost approx $12 million. Just think about what that would cost today. One of the best examples of the estates of the past.

We came in July and unfortunately it was a very hot day
We did the house tour and the garage
Everybody there was so knowledgeable, professional and wanted to tell the story about the manor and the family and furniture. It was a great pleasure to visit
We will definitely return to see the gardens too

What a beautiful way to spend a day traveling back in time and imagining what it was like to live in the luxurious Nemours Estate back in the day. The grounds, mansion and exhibits were all top notch. The only negative was a rather snippy tour guide who clearly did not encourage questions and a shuttle bus driver who should have used his microphone so we could hear his narration of the gardens. Other than that, Nemours Estate is a must see if you are in the Wilmington Delaware area.

My wife and I have toured all the other Dupont properties but had never gotten around to Nemours due to the need for reservations. Thankfully, reservations are no longer required. We visited yesterday on our 40th anniversary and were very happy we did. The place is so well done. From the visitor center to the gardens and mansion, the organization and care are quite evident. And the guides and shuttle drivers are so informative and friendly. Definitely make sure to watch the video in the visitor center and check out the chauffeur's garage.

The Estate is beautifully designed with fountains of gold plated artwork and intriguing architectural features throughout the grounds. Historically automobiles still exist on the premises. It’s truly amazing to view the mansion and the grounds of Nemours so well maintained.

Thought we made a wrong turn when turning into the hospital parking lot, but keep going to reach the visitor parking lot. Was happily surprised that Nemours Estate has a higher Tripadvisor ranking than Winterthur but then noticed Winterthur is it's own city. Oh well, both are worth seeing.
Don't miss the free garden tour in the mini-bus especially if it's a hot day.
Seen many tree lined avenues, but never seen one lined with maple trees. Must be incredible in the fall.

My husband and I enjoyed our tour of Nemours. It almost felt like we were in Europe again, except when you went inside the house, you could definitely see the American influences in the French design.

As always, the Nemours Mansion is a gorgeous place to visit. If you want to read all the explanations and have a fabulous conversation with one of the docents, plan to spend several hours in the house. Then, if the day is gorgeous, plan another several hours roaming the gardens. Only two complaints. My husband and I use walkers and we called ahead to be sure everything was accessible. We were assured it was. However, when we went to get on the shuttle, the driver would not open the wheelchair access to put our walkers on. Fortunately, some very nice visitors folded them up and put them on the bus - in the rain. When we arrived at the mansion it was pouring rain. The shuttle had umbrellas behind the driver, but none were offered to us and we were drenched by the time we reached the mansion. The friendly staff inside got us all towels to use to dry off. Kudos to them. Thumbs down to the shuttle driver.

Don't miss this tour, very interesting and informative about the DuPont family. We were with a group and our tour guide was wonderful, also go to Hagley to understand more about the family and their business.

You enter the property and can walk the grounds, which are beautiful. First we went to the garage and checked out the old cars. The garage is immaculate and the cars are in great shape. Then we hopped on a little tour bus-type cart with about 10 people and they drove us around the property pointing out all sorts of details. Finally, we walked through the house and saw it was in perfect condition with many guides ready to tell us all about everything. The only downer was that they were short on staff due to Covid and some of the house was closed off for now. Still I would recommend going.

Very gusty winds and rainy day but managed a very pleasant guided tour of the mansion with two very knowledgeable guides. One mansion guide had been doing the house tour for 20 years and there wasn’t a question she couldn’t provide detailed response. The mansion is exquisite and reminds me of European nobility mansions. Late fall and the weather prevented us from walking the gardens.

This 77 room mansion build by Alfred I. du Pont for his wife, showcases the majesty of a by-gone era. There is the largest formal French gardens in the US, but it was a rainy day and we all stayed inside. I would love to go back and walk the gardens and visit the Chauffeur's Garage with its collection of vintage automobiles. We all felt the guided tour as well as the self-guided tours offered wonderful access to the home. There was a grand yet warm feeling to the home, and guides located in many areas so that any question we had, was answered. I'd like to visit at Christmas, as the mansion has Christmas trees and beautiful decorations everywhere!

This will be one of my favorite memories with my daughter. It was a beautiful day to spend wandering the garden. Street direction signage could have been better. It was a little confusing being right next to children’s hospital. Parking is free and convenient. We toured the “house” first which was overwhelming and gorgeous. The volunteers were very friendly and informative. The different garden “rooms” were amazing. Just when you thought you couldn’t see anything prettier, you turn a corner and it takes your breathe away. Spent 3 hours and walked/strolled over 3 miles. Lots of benches with lovely views. There is a free shuttle tour which circles the gardens. We missed the gift shop which is located by the house not by entry. No dining on premises.

REALLY makes you appreciate and respect Alfred DuPont.

It was beautiful! I actually enjoyed it more than the Breakers in Newport, RI- that should say it all!!

Beautifully manicured grounds designed with French influence yet many areas left in natural state. One of the smaller DuPont homes yet has unique features. An elevator makes for convenient tour of three floors. The third Mrs DuPont resided in the home into the 70's. DuPont Children's Hospital was on the property. Shuttle bus runs continuously.

We thoroughly enjoyed our three-hour stay here. The docents were very helpful and knowledgeable, and they really try to make the guests feel welcome, despite all the valuable furnishings around. It was particularly striking how well maintained everything was, and I'm sure at considerably expense. This tour was much more interesting than the one at Winterthur.

This estate offers a wonderful insight into the world of the DuPont families. The impact of the DuPont family on the local economy, the philanthropy of the family and the lasting beauty of the home and gardens make this a worthwhile visit.

We weren't sure how good this would be or how long we would spend here but we were pleasantly surprised. We spent a little bit of time looking around the garden before heading for the main house and then the chauffuers garage which houses some old cars and a small display. All of the volunteers were great, very knowledgable and wanting to talk to visitors and tell them more. It was very good value and we spent almost four hours here but if it hadn't been so hot that day could easily have spent longer.

We did a self guided tour through the mansion since we just missed the 11am tour. There are staff located throughout Nemours and they gladly share information. We were there primarily to see it decorated for Christmas. The decor was beautiful and opulent but I personally enjoyed the Hagley Christmas/holiday decorations more.
You enter at the visitor center and a shuttle takes you to the mansion.
(In the summer the grounds are absolutely stunning). There is a bathroom that visitors can use on the 1st floor. I believe the is an elevator available for those unable to negotiate the stairs.
The shuttle will also take you to the garage where there are some antique cars. The small gift shop is located there.
All 3 Dupont estates are worth going to anytime of the year. Hagley and Nemours are very close geographically and Winterthur isn't that far.
We have enjoyed all 3 at Christmas - distinctly different but enjoyable.

The tour starts with a film about the life of Alfred I duPont, who built the mansion. Once we arrived at the mansion - you have to take a bus from the visitor center to get there - we immediately went on a 30 minute guided tour of the basement. It appears that such tours are not promoted, but we were told about it as soon as we entered the house. We then walked to the carriage house and took a bus tour of the grounds. The carriage house includes many of the cars used by the family, including two Rolls Royces. We then went back to the house and did a self-guided tour, though there were docents in many of the rooms who were very helpful in telling the story of the family and the rooms.

It was very interesting and a good use of our time.

The house and tour were our favorites. It was a little early in the season to see the full depth and beauty of the gardens. We were on an individual tour on the main floor to 10-12 rooms all with tour leaders in each room. Great place to see authentic, antiques from an earlier era. I understand the items in the house are real, were there when the family lived there, are not reproductions. The items, their detail, their condition are all fantastic if you are a lover or appreciate American antiques. You are seeing beds, sitting chairs, all kinds of tables, china, desks, bathrooms and even a very old typewriter on a desk. All beautifully set up in real room surroundings and settings. Beautiful and a real look back at a family's history and how they lived.

Horrible traffic (Rte 1 was closed in both directions for hours because of a tanker wreck) limited the time we could spend at the Nemours Mansion & Gardens. The home was spectacular--jaw-dropping elegance. Parking is free, but you must take a shuttle to the mansion. The brochures and online information said it was "self-guided" tour, but when we arrived rather late in the day, we were told that "the tour had just started." We joined the guided group and learned much about the DuPonts who lived there during the hour-long tour. The staff was very informative and helpful with older members of the group--offering elevator rides to the upper floors for those who needed them. It wasn't until the end of the tour, when they said the bus would arrive in a few minutes, that we found out that we had been directed into one of those bus tours offered by certain companies--and those we toured with had paid more money for this guided tour. Not our fault--the staff told us to join it. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to explore the lovely gardens and grounds. We did have about 10 minutes before closing to view the antique cars in the garage. Our caveats: Be sure to leave more than 1.5 hours to visit Nemours--one needs about three hours to enjoy everything. Also, the "self-guided" concept is not good--we never would have learned as much if we hadn't accidentally been included in the guided tour. Perhaps Nemours should offer both. Also--it seems the new company operating the mansion has chosen to eliminate quite a few rooms from the tour. This is highly disappointing. One more thing: parents be forewarned--young children will be very bored. Even older children will be disinterested. This is one of those places that only adults will fully enjoy.

We loved touring this beautiful house and its gardens. The fountains are spectacular! We especially enjoyed being able to see bedrooms, the kitchen, and servants' dining room in addition to the gorgeous public rooms. It was interesting to see the recreation areas in the lower level -- bowling alley, billiards room, and displays of military helmets and a model ship that Mr. duPont built.

My 18-year-old daughter and I visited today. We had a lovely tram tour of the gardens and walking tour around the outside of the mansion house (you’d be surprised how much there is to talk about there). The mansion itself is lovely, and there are docents stationed around the house to explain to you what you are seeing.

We walked from the mansion up to the chauffeur’s garage, then down to the gardens and just marveled at the gorgeous views.

Both my children spent time at the A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital, and my daughter remarked on how she never knew the estate was right next door.

If your schedule allows, you can fit visits to Nemours and Hagley (down the street) into a single day.

Also, bring snacks and water! I only saw a Pepsi vending machine outside the visitor’s center.

Researching this place, the thing to see there seemed to be the garage with the cars. That was cool but the mansion was incredible. You can easily spend a half day in the mansion. The mansion is self guided and a lot of it is not roped off so you can get up close to the furnishings. It is amazing. If you have a chance tour the basement. And if the mansion was not incredible enough, the gardens are also fabulous. Need at least a 1/2 day there. The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly.

My friend and I went to Nemours last summer. We found the house to be quite lovely and were inspired to visit the Hagley Museum this summer.
There is a guided tour by bus of the grounds and a self tour of the house. Both are well worth your time.

Absolutely gorgeous estate with some of the most beautiful gardens I have seen! A must visit if you are in the area!!!!!!

The Nemours Mansion and its French-style gardens, are a beautiful property that one should not miss.
The mansion itself is incredible, the good care of the rooms makes you feel as if you were living in that time of history. (For me it was like living in an American version of "Downton Abbey") One of the guest room at the mansion has the most spectacular view of the gardens!
The staff of the mansion are really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the history of the estate. Terry was a terrific guide; he really enjoys sharing the history of the place.
My suggestion is that you should take the guided tour of the mansion and the Shuttle tour of the gardens, the staff has many stories to tell.
Do not forget to visit the Garage where you can appreciate some incredible Rolls Royce cars!
Even the corridor that takes you from the visitor center to the shuttle has an interesting and chronological history of the place and its owners.
Consider to spend around4 hours to fully enjoy what the estate offers you.
Definitively we will return to this mansion, they told us that during Christmas they keep the mansion beautifully decorated.

Although we’ve lived in the area for sometime we hadn’t been to the estate so we decided to give it a try. The grounds are beautiful. I think we could have stayed in the garden for hours. My husband is into cars so we had to go over and see the antique and classic cars they owned.

It’s like another world. If you are looking for some serenity and enjoy lush scenery, this place is amazing.

My daughter (12) and I visited the mansion yesterday and had a lovely time. We were greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable docent, Paula. She was a wealth of information. She shared stories about the family and their home. She rotated her position around the mansion and seemed to pop up at the perfect time. We particularly enjoyed being able to enter the various rooms as if we were true guests of the DuPont family.

The gilding is beautiful and the variety of art work is worth lingering to study. The views from each room are breathtaking, they have the most amazing gardens. My daughter took full advantage of the photograph taking opportunities.

The only feedback I have to offer is we would have liked to have seen how the servants lived within the household. Those areas of the house were not available.

We took the garden tour on the bus, as it was so hot, we felt it was the best way to see everything and hear the stories. The driver was polite, but didn't really provide interesting insight or stories of the family. The view from the bus was limited, we were a little disappointed. So that we could take full advantage of the gardens, I think a visit during the cooler months would have been better so we could walk around.

It was a lovely day and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

We could have spent the day wandering the gardens and taking photos! We took the introductory garden tour with Kenneth, who was incredibly knowledgeable and really told the story of the family well. We chose to do the self guided indoor tour of the mansion, and the interpreters posted throughout were helpful but not intrusive if it seemed we just wanted to look around the rooms quietly. Following the advice of the worker in the gift shop, we visited the carriage house and admired the antique vehicles there.

There's a shuttle that takes you around the property, and various interactive opportunities including placards ("find these three objects in the kitchen" or "fun facts" or my personal favorite, the garden gnome scavenger hunt.

Not sure about ADA compliance, but there were elevators in the mansion and golf carts in the grounds. We didn't find a cafe but the portapotties were top of the line, most suitable for the venue. :)

They hold events in the grounds and if we lived nearby, we would definitely get the season pass to visit the gardens year round. One gardener suggested that mid-June is the optimal time to visit the gardens to see things in bloom.

I loved most of the house as it was self guided. The bowling alley was really neat. I’ve never seen one without power in person. The pool table room was really ornate and had that rustic men’s lodge feel to it. You could really picture men sitting in there watching a game. The grounds were under construction so outside photos were ugly. May I make a small suggestion? Those who have entry bracelets should have a way to open the gate instead of having to wait for a bus driver to open the gate.

If Nemours represents what Delaware is like, then count me in! The docents and staff at Nemours make this an even nicer place to be! Thank you to the staff here!! The mansion is quite spectacular to see. You can take a Highlight Tour which leads you through about 5 rooms on a guided tour but the docents are spread around and are a wealth of knowledge and willing to share. They were very helpful in showing us things we might have missed or not understood. Look for all the “call buttons” around the house. There are two house levels to enjoy and a basement to see too. There is an elevator for guests to use or you can climb the opulent staircase while you imagine yourself living here! Ha! The grounds are accessible for guests to walk around and enjoy. The fountains were not working on the day of our visit so that was missed. I had seen the fountains in the website photos and looked forward to seeing that. You enter the Visitor Center, see a short (and constantly rolling) film about Alfred DuPont. You step out the end door and catch a shuttle that will take you to the mansion. The chauffeur’s garage is at the end of the property and you can walk to it. The shuttle can take you there, too, or even pick you up there since the garage is one of the shuttle stops. I think the shuttles run about every 20 minutes. We toured the mansion, enjoyed the grounds, walked to the chauffer’s garage, and then caught the shuttle back to the visitor center. You can take photos inside the mansion but no flash photography and you can also take photos outside on the grounds. Highly recommend the Nemours Mansion.

Incredible experience, a true “Achievement”! Maryann knew all the juicy details about the family and history, Alicia and Alfred would’ve been proud of her dynamite performance. She translated nuance like a chemist balances equations, precisely and with flair. Every scandal, lawsuit, and whispered affair? Delivered with historical grace and just enough gossip to make Victorine raise an eyebrow.

It was, in every sense, a gunpowdery explosive good time. Highly recommend!

Far exceeded my expectations! Loved visiting Nemours! I only wish I had delegated more time for my visit. There's so much to see and two hours was not enough time to experience everything. I will definitely need to return!

We thoroughly enjoyed this visit! The gardens are amazing and the mansion has so much history. What made our visit perfect were all the staff/volunteers that shared SO MUCH interesting information! You must do this!

Nemours is one of several estates in the area that belonged to various members of the DuPont family. We visited on a Saturday and were able to explore 3 floors of the mansion at our own pace. Staff was on hand throughout to answer questions and share the history of the estate. They friendly & informative. We opted to take the shuttle that provides a tour of the grounds before dropping you off at the mansion. (Access is only by their shuttle. A locked gate prevents entry on foot.) The formal gardens are beautiful, but the water feature in one area is undergoing some work & and you couldn't get close. Highly recommended if you enjoy touring mansions, like antiques and/or are interested in the history of the DuPonts.

The really cool factor on this site is you have access to quite a few of rooms of mansion. It is self placed and there are knowledgeable, attitude-free, docents throughout eager to share info.
Definitely watch intro film in welcome center and read vertical boards in welcome center entry hall as these lay out DuPont's life and puts things into context.
Nice shuttle bus system included in fee as grounds are wonderful to wander but you are not allowed to walk back thru exit.
We were seduced by Winterthur and Longwood Gardens but Nemours won our hearts.

This wonderful Alfred I duPont legacy was donated to their foundation and includes an amazing estate and manicured gardens that were designed to wow anyone who goes there. This is a must-see exhibit. I liked it more than Longwood Gardens. Take the Garden Bus Tour and then sign up for the walking tour of the garden and special mansion tour. Really a lovely place.

We enjoyed our tour of the home and the bus tour around the estate and property. Everything about this tour was great. We were able to take photos and loved being able to stroll around the outside of the home as well. The gardens are well cared for but some areas are not perfectly maintained. The ladies in the home were very kind and when our umbrella was taken, they helped to track it down on the grounds. We did have to confront the visitor that took it, but it worked out fine. No gift shop on the premises, not even a postcard to purchase. But definitely a place to tour for a few hours. Don't miss the basement. Lots to see down there too. I liked the pantry and the conservatory/sunroom space.

We loved our visit to Nemours! Although it is a self guided tour, there were hosts in most of the rooms that are happy to share their knowledge. Loved learning more about the DuPont family history. I took advantage of one of the 'special' garden tours that walked around the house. We also took a short tour ride in an open bus that toured the large grounds.

We visited on a recent spring Saturday. We loved the format of a self guided tour of the mansion with volunteers stationed to answer various questions. This allowed us to tour at our own pace and not have to take an hour long guided tour when we usually go at a bit faster clip. We then spent the rest of the afternoon walking in the gardens, which were breathtaking! We were blown away by the scale of the gardens and we really enjoyed the fountains along with the reflecting pool. My fiance really enjoyed the garage with the vintage cars and pictures of the family's yacht. We will be back and we will recommend this to everyone!

So interesting and beautiful. Gardens and house are beautiful. Interesting history of one branch of the DuPont family. Worth a stop!

This place is awesome, so much to see. The grounds are beautiful even in the winter time. I loved the house and all the furnishings, definitely worth a visit!

Very nice look into how the DuPont family lived.
Very nice furniture throughout the entire place.
Neat Basement.

Great experience for a history or architectural lover!!! 95% of items are authentic to original owners which is almost unheard of! Very helpful staff in every few rooms, ready to answer questions. We spent about 2.5 hours to explore the 3 levels of home and garden in the winter month. I did expect it to be free based off googling if we weren't doing a tour, but since it is Noel at Nemours, there was a cost. Beautiful decorated for the holidays though!

When in the area, one should plan to spend part of the day at Nemours Estate. The grounds are lovely, and gardens are well maintained. The home is a treasure. One may take a self-guided tour of many rooms in the 77-room mansion including the basement with a bowling alley, kitchen, and family and guest bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor. Also, plan on visiting the carriage house, with chauffer's quarters and display of antique cars owned by the family. Take a garden loop tour to see the grounds which begins just past a set of gates near the mansion and check out the gift shop in the building that once housed the laundry.

This place was spectacular - grounds and the mansion. Discovered this hidden gem via Fodor's - otherwise, all one hears about is Winterthur. Docents were extremely knowledgeable, yet friendly/engaging. (We had different experience at Winterthur where some of the docents can be 'high brow' and condescending). Make sure you include Nemours on your travels to the Wilmington area!

We visited the Nemours Estate a few days ago. We had a guided tour of the mansion, which we highly recommend. The guided tour will take you to spaces that are not accessible if you do a self-guided tour. Our guide was excellent. We returned to several of the interior spaces of the mansion after our guided tour to have a second look at a more leisurely pace, and to take pictures without being obstructed by other visitors. Yes, you can take interior photos, albeit without flash. We thoroughly wandered the grounds, first to the chauffeur's garage, and then onto the gardens and grounds, slowly making our way back to the last shuttle stop from which we returned to the visitor center. We were told when we entered the facility in the morning that we would be ready to leave after 2 1/2 hrs. We ended up spending 5 hrs. there. There is no reason to hurry. The grounds are amazing, even if the reflecting pool is undergoing some work at the moment. All of the staff that we encountered were great. We enjoyed the introductory film (20 min.) in the Visitor Center, as well as the timeline of du Pont family history, juxtaposed with significant events around the world at the same time. It was fascinating. If I had one complaint, it would be that the site needs to have a café or some place where light refreshments and beverages (especially water) could be made available to visitors. The chauffeur's garage and/or laundry building would be a great place for this. There is currently nothing here, not even a water fountain, except in the Visitor Center. That is the only reason I a giving it 4 vs. 5 stars.

Nemours is just wonderful. I'm glad I was able to come at this time of year to not only enjoy the mansion but to also see all the holiday decorations. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There is someone in each room to explain, answer questions and point out various items. Please go here.

Very nice visitor center where you can watch a short movie about Alfred DuPont. Afterwards take a shuttle to mansion. Mansion is beautiful. Very well informed guides are in most of the rooms. Be sure to also visit carriage house which is a five minute walk or shuttle will take you. I look forward to returning in warm weather to explore the beautiful gardens.

Absolutely fabulous mansion. Every room we entered we were greeted and told about the room. So friendly. Made me feel like I was an invited guest. The grounds were spectacular. Especially like that there was a bus for a garden tour. Take time to read the fun facts around the mansion. Best tour in Wilimgton.

This was such a fun stop in Wilmington! you are able to walk quite freely around the grounds and throughout the estate, I liked how there was not a requirement for a guided tour. it's a beautiful place to visit, definitely check it out if you're in town!

I have visited the Mansion 2 times in different times of the year. I do recommend the Christmas time because they decorate the whole mansion and it is magical. The person that gives the tour is very knowledgeable and Alfred I DuPont story is very interesting. The fact that he used to carry his own bottle water every time he traveled makes me think he was thinking ahead something that it is an everyday thing now.

This is a fun place to visit — the House, the grounds, the garage full of great cars. And the reception hall has an amazing display of daily history and some industrial artifacts.

I visited the Nemours Estate on July 4, 2023 (yesterday) and I could not wait to write this review. Yes, this place is "all that and a bag of chips". So...just go. You step onto the grounds and your blood pressure is lowered immediately. I was there for 4 hours. I would have stayed longer, but I had a train to catch.

Three observations: 1). The only "downside" of the visit is that you can see the hospital from the grounds. (Yes, I'm quibbling!!!). I just wish that the hospital was built lower OR that trees could completely block the hospital from view. 2). Do the shuttle tour around the grounds first and then walk around the grounds. The shuttle tour gives you a GREAT perspective. 3). I give the Estate *high* marks for the deluxe portable toilets on the grounds.

To build not one but 2 fortunes! Love what capitalism offers. Love the opportunity to be the 1%. Amazing visit on a rainy day gave us a one on one tour.

This estate is bursting with charm and elegance. We loved wandering around the gardens, there was a bus offered to tour the gardens but we did not have the time to explore that option, but it sounded like an easy way to see them as they are quite expansive. When we got inside, each room was more impressive than the next and we had an amazing time interacting with all the very knowledgable and energetic guides posted in each room. We learned so much and had a wonderful experience.

A small group of us had a tour guide take us through the mansion. It was fabulous, fascinating, and so informative! I am so glad we didn't just wander through on our own; we never would have learned so much about the mansion and the family because we would not have known what questions to ask. It is a terrific tour and then an interesting guided ride through the gardens.

Spectacular French formal gardens. Great exhibits in the visitor center with a film. House tour but cannot go in with a backpack or small pack pocketbook. The gardens alone are worth it. History tie in works with the other DuPont sites.

the house, the gardens, and the outbuildings are terrific. Be sure and include a tour of the basement...as this is one of the most fascinating parts of the home and of the tour. The automobile collection is also a not to miss experience.

This is a great place to visit. The grounds are gorgeous. The best part is the Mansion. Plan on spending several hours if you really want to see everything.

We've visited Longwood for decades but never here until today and what a wonderful experience. Excellent tour and the guide shared much fun and enlightening information.
We will be back for more!!

Touring this estate was truly fascinating. The grounds were well maintained and even though it was the end of the growing season, we were surprised at the lush flower displays. The mansion itself was breathtaking and meeting informed and friendly docents made the visit memorable.From the women in the ticket booth to other staff, all were very welcoming. Only one hiccup -- we had trouble finding Nemours Mansion. I know that directions said that it was on the grounds of the Childrens Hospital, but we didn't see a sign on the road for the mansion. Glad we didn't give up locating it.

Nemours Estate and Grounds will not disappoint. The interior tour allows visitors to see most living areas, as well as view the kitchen/staff dining quarters and the recreation areas in the basement, along with the mechanical rooms. The docents were enthusiastic about the home and sharing their knowledge of the Dupont Family. Home was beautiful and the grounds were spectacular. I've been the Hearst Castle, Newport. Lenox.... and this estate certainly rivals those.

High ratings for this place and it deserves it. The house is excellent, the staff are pleasant and really know their subjects and the drivers that take you from the car park to the house are excellent.

Docents take 4 to 6 people in their group tours. Makes hearing & asking questions very easy. You get to see house, gardens, & garage on your tour. Fascinating life stories of one of the DuPont's, among Wilmington, DE's "first families".

My husband and I had the day off so we decided to visit Nemours. We learned so much and we had fun. All the employees were very friendly and informative. We started with the movie, the grounds, and the carriage house. We took a break to have lunch then returned to tour the mansion. My husband never complained and said he had a great day.

Loved the beautiful and impressive estate built by Dupont. Make sure you take the tour that is offered free with your admission price. Our tour guide was exceptional in her knowledge of the history and origins of this beautiful estate.

If you enjoy spectacular historic old homes and grounds of the Uber Rich don’t miss this. Enjoyed learning about A.I. DuPont and especially appreciate that you can peak a view of the wonderful Children’s Hospital that he endowed from his estate.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit! The grounds and house are beautiful!! The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. This is the most beautiful estate home we have ever visited. Especially interesting were the systems in the basement which a very knowledgeable docent explained to us. This is a must visit if you're in the area.

We found the gardens very nice and the tour very interesting. The issue we had was with the shuttle service. From the visitor center you must take the shuttle. The home is a 10-15 minute walk. The gardens were just on the other side of the wall. They told us the shuttle ran every 15 minutes. More like 20-25. Add time for you visit for the shuttle. Still very much worth the time.

Awesome place for engagement or wedding photos. The grounds are beautiful and lots of different areas to be shot. We loved our pictures! The photographer was also very impressed and will be recommending to future clients.

Absolutely beautiful & stunning estate in rural Delaware and a fascinating house stocked with treasures & history

The house and gardens looked magnificent. Our garden bus tour was very enlightening. The only disappointment was that the visitors center built in 2007 was no longer in use. Entering the estate through the children's hospital grounds was confusing and not well signed. All staff and tour guides were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable.

My wife and I were here many years ago, how long I do not know. I remembered it was very good, but that was all I could remember and knew that I would like to return someday. It finally happened. I understand there were some improvements and some additions, changes. This estate compares reasonably favorably with its European counterparts, a little less showy perhaps, but very pretty and extraordinarily tastefully done. We just came back from London and for me the house is just as nice as Apsley House and Spencer House, but not The Wallace Collection. The grounds are very nice as well, not Versailles or Schloss Linderhof in size or grandeur, but for America, quite impressive. The cars are not as spectacular as one is led to believe and the walk in 100 degree weather was not worth the effort, but if you are a car fan and the weather agreeable, by all means take a stroll. The staff was exceptional in their cordiality, exuberance and knowledge. We spent three times what we thought we would be spending there. Take the bus tour, particularly when it’s hot. You get a very good overview of the grounds with lively commentary. You come away from visiting with several impressions. First, this was a house that was really meant to be a home, rather than primarily a monument to the greatness of the owner. Impressive and beautiful, yes, but still clearly the purpose was to be a wonderful place to live. I envy them. It must have been great with a gym, pool table, billiards table, movies and personal office down below. The rooms are large, light and airy. The creator of the estate and the inheritors seem to be decent people. They had rooms that were quite nice for their servants and supposedly they treated them almost as part of an extended family. On the estate, they took a portion of the land and built a children’s hospital with a very large endowment. It has been added onto and appears to be a very substantial institution. We spent so long that we did not have time to visit Winterthur for the third or fourth time. Oh well, that’s for another visit. We found there were some places in the area to visit that we did not even know about. So Wilmington will probably be back on the agenda someday soon. If you go, try to see the fireworks at the Longwood Gardens while you are there. They occur a few times in the summer and be sure to start checking way in advance and buy tickets early. They sell out lickety split.

Longwood Gardens and Winterthur are both lovely but this beats them both. Apparently the Nemours Foundation which runs the pediatric hospital and the estate has plenty of money to keep it in pristine condition and staff it well. We especially liked the drink glasses that were filled as if ready to be consumed and the dining room table set for dinner. Plus a bedroom with covers on the bed turned back and a breakfast tray and flowers. The film and friendly tour guide explain the context of the mansion and gardens. Highly recommend.

I was followed around and profiled whole old white women treated me as if my money or excitement to learn about the mansion was under appreciated.

We three, had been several years ago to the other estates in the Delaware valley.. so when we were visiting Philly it was hands down vote to get to Nemours, home of Alfred DuPont... believe everything these reviews have said about this homes granduer.. A must see for anyone who loves the rich and famous gossip. The grounds were spectacular..yet very usable for a family. Easy access to all three floor via elevator.

The history, the stories, it's all actually too much to take in. You can imagine yourself living in this age.

Amazing residence of the DuPonts. Beautiful home and gardens. Wonder guided tour of the mansion and much history behind the family can be seen.

Lots of History about Delaware and its DuPont natives. We've had Duponts for governors and of course amongst others that were involved in various activities in Delaware

We added this at the last minute after our tour of Winterthur (10 minutes away). It is the estate of another du Pont heir and has been left just as it was lived in by the family around 1910. The tour is self-guided but there is a friendly doscent in every room and they are each happy to explain things. They showed us a crystal chandelier from LaFayette in one room and one from Marie Antoniette in another. Be sure and see the basement which has a 100 year old version of a fitness center and a wood-panelled bowling alley. The out buildings are all very interesting as well. And of course you should stroll around the Versaiiles-like formal garden, which is said to be the largest English garden in the US. Very impressive. All in all, we were very happy that we stumbled on this place. In some ways we liked it better than Winterthur, though the two are very different.

We loved walking around the Estate. It was amazing to see. The grounds were beautiful, we could not believe that this was once the DuPont's home.
It was a very hot day so it was nice to see that they were offering golf cart rides from the parking a lot and to the carriage house.
They even had coolers with waters to take if needed.
I was a little disappointed to hear that there was not a gift shop, I would have liked to get an ornament or even a post card of the Estate. The money made could maybe go to the Children's Hospital.

Not as big as the Biltmore but much to see in furniture, art and history. Tour gets you the house chauffeurs garage (not Jay Leno's but interesting never the less, very rare RR Phantom) and gardens. You can tour the gardens by bus which will save your legs.

Very interesting tour of duPont family history. Grounds are just beautiful!! Holidays are a very nice time to visit

Very interesting tour of DuPont family history. A magnificent estate and beautiful gardens, we also especially enjoyed the history and life story of the man who built it. Alfred DuPont was really ahead of his time with all the technological innovations utilized within the house. Totally worth visiting!

Toured the Mansion under the guidance of docents who have specific areas of responsibility. A lot of information is available fro the docents about the art and furnishings in the Mansion. Toured the main floor. the basement area including the mechanical areas and bowling alley and the upstairs including the bedrooms.

Although we went on a Saturday, luckily there were very few people at the Nemours Estate. Upon our arrival we first watched the 20 minute orientation film in the Visitors' Center. We would recommend it as it really helped set the stage for seeing the house and gardens. Since it was a cold day we were glad the shuttles ran almost continuously which meant no long waits outside.

The house is a great example of opulence. It was built in 1910 and resembles a French mansion with 105 rooms and 5 floors. Although you could take a formal tour, we chose to walk through on our own. Thanks to very knowledgeable docents who are stationed throughout the house, we learned much about the property and the family.

There are many areas that you don't want to miss. The basement was the most interesting. First, don't miss the bowling alley with both ten pin and duck pin lanes. (Do note however, that even though the house had electricity, someone did have to set the pins.) Also impressive was the billiard room with one pool table that you will recognize and one with no pockets that the balls had to be bounced off the bumpers. You also can see the central vac system (yes in 1910), the exercise room (yes in 1910), the water bottling area, the darkroom, the mechanical room, and Mr. DuPont's office.

The first floor gave a look into the DuPont's daily life with the entertaining areas, the dining room, the kitchen, the library, and the music room. Don't miss the huge silver safe, and some of the many sets of china. They also originally had iceboxes (the ice was made in the basement using ammonia), but they were replaced by refrigerators after freon was invented.

On the second floor were the guest and family bedrooms. It was nice that they had his and her bathrooms -- a truly modern couple. (It is noteworthy to add that the large building next to the mansion is the DuPont Children's Hospital -- built through the generosity of Alfred DuPont.)

We did walk outside to look at the gardens and the gates, but saw much of the grounds via the warm bus. Although the gardens would have been much prettier in the spring or summer, the lack of crowds made it worth visiting when we did.

This is a must-see mansion. Very elaborate and elegant building and decorations. The garden is delightful, and almost a reproduction of the Schoenbrunn garden in Vienna, Austria, on a much smaller scale. The bus from the entrance to the mansion is very convenient to avoid a very long walk.

Beautiful home and exquisite grounds. It was a little hard finding the entrance on the grounds of the hospital, they could use better signage.
We spent about an hour or so in the house. The docents were very infomrative and helpful. The grounds are just spectacularand it would be easy to wonder for quite sometime.
It was a very nice experience.

We loved everything about this estate. The grounds were exquisite and so beautiful. The self guided tour included all levels of the house. The docents in each room were very knowledgeable and really answered any questions I asked. We had such a fantastic day touring this home.

Amazing - I was blown away by everything at this place - I have been on many mansion tours and this place was special (I think I enjoyed the basement area the best - everything for a water carbonation station to a bowling alley). The grounds were beautiful even though we went In Late October (will definitely be back again in spring). Didn’t get to see the garage area with all the cars as we got there late - but I’m sure would have been amazing. Everyone is so knowledgeable and happy to share their information.

All is in order and top-notch. Visitor Center has a fabulously displayed time line. Even the shuttle buses are plush and high-end! Great tour with an opportunity to see rooms not typically interpreted, nor seen in mansion tours. The garden is stunning and maintained to perfection. Surrounded by beautiful fall color. This was a great time of year to visit!

This is a phenomenal house set in a beautiful garden. Relaxed, take your time self tour with many docents to help you with any questions. So glad I made the time to see this home and learn about this interesting man.

10-11-17 Although I am not into old houses this was a good tour with friends. The house was quite innovative at the time and shows how having money can certainly make things happen. The basement is especially impressive with the technology of the time. Makes for lots of conversation. Thought the staff extremely well informed and friendly.

This place is just beautiful! The outside is just gorgeous and the inside of the property is just amazing. Took my family of 4 there and we loved it. Highly recommend

This was a great impulse stop. I thoroughly enjoyed touring the grounds and the house. All of the staff from the ticket and information ladies to the people in the house were so friendly. While technically the tour was self guided in the house, there was staff every few rooms to point out interesting items. One of the guides said they switched spots every half hour, so I saw some of the same people multiple times. As I was leaving I asked for a lunch recommendation from the staff at the information desk and they were great.

Built by Alfred du Pont and used as the family home, this 77-room mansion feels as if people actually lived there, which added significantly to the pleasure of the visit. The docents who explain rooms and answer questions are knowledgeable and friendly. The gardens are magnificent; be sure to stroll all the way to the end, then turn around and look at the house. Beautiful!

Nemours is a place you can visit multiple times to enjoy the beautiful home, it's furnishings and gardens. There's a short film in the visitors center that nicely sets the stage for what you will see when you visit. Be sure to take the open tram for the garden tour. Parking is limited, so go early. There is no food service of any kind onsite, but there is a lovely cafe 6 minutes away, that even offers outdoor seating in the warmer months. It's called De La Coeur Café et Pâtisserie and is located at 1836 Lovering Ave, Wilmington, DE 19806, There's usually on street parking around the cafe.

We loved the self guided tours. The guides were amazing! We loved that there were live people in most of the rooms who took the time to explain things and answer questions. We found it so much more informative than signs, audio guides or even a full on tour. Please do not change the format! We will definitely be back!

Wonderful experience, including the garden tour, seeing how a duPont family lived. Definitely recommend this.

(Pre-Covid Review)
This was a beautiful Estate. The grounds were my favorite part, and the tram that took you around the garden made it easy to see the entire garden in just a few minutes. The inside is just as beautiful and the rooms are so unique. (Took a lot of good pictures). The people there were very nice and informative. We will definitely come here again.

First visit while in Wilmington, glad I visited the duPont estate. The grounds and mansion were very nice which reminded me of being in France. The interior of the mansion was nice especially with the information that was provided by the estate guides working inside. There were multiple people on each floor who provided some good insight and information about their areas which helped you understand what you were viewing. A walk around the park grounds was nice and relaxing. I would come back if every in Wilmington again.

The Nemours Estate was a wonderful experience both inside the mansion and and walking the grounds despite the cold weather. The volunteers inside the mansion could not have been any more enthusiastic about sharing the history of the Dupont family and the mansion. Very informative and kind

When Mr. DuPont died his will stipulated his estate become the hospital for children. The mansion at that time was converted into a hospital. A few years ago they built a new hospital and restored the mansion back to what it was when the family lived there. If you want to see how the Duponts used to live you need to take the tour of the mansion and gardens.

Built in the early 1900's, Nemours has been preserved in it's original condition. The knowledgeable docents ensure a memorable visit. Be sure to tour the gardens!

AMAZING grounds and buildings! Reminded me of an east coast Hearst Castle. The docents were full of information and we enjoyed Betsy's descriptions of how the home was actually lived in. What inventive ideas were used in building this self-sufficient estate! We enjoyed the garage and the tour of the grounds by bus. LOVELY stop.

Yes the grandeur is truly world class, I don't need to tell you about that. What you need to do is first see the movie in the visitors center, it will really enlighten you and what you are about to see. Small artifact museum here also, but you will pass back this same way after your mansion tour. At the visitor center use the bathroom and drink up before you go to the mansion as there is only ONE bathroom, and NO water fountain there!! Going last week when it was 100+ degrees, drinking tap water from the bathroom didn't cut it. Take the bus to the garage and 5 cars parked there (they have cooler water there), then I'd recommend a 5 minute walk to see the gold statues and lush grounds. From there, it offers a nice view back at the mansion.

My husband and I toured Nemours and it is exceptional! It was built by one of the DuPonts for his second wife and looks like a gorgeous French chateau located in the midst of beautiful gardens. You tour the house on your own with people stationed in the rooms to tell you the history. Each room is more beautiful than the last! Don’t miss it if you are in the area!

Beautiful restored mansion. One of the many DuPont family member's homes in the area.
It is best to make a reservation. Any time of the year is good to visit.

We just came from Paris, last month, and after visited mansion , I get feeling like I returned to Versailles for a moment. Beautiful place to visit .if you around Wilmington, Delaware, it a must to visit this place

I am so glad we decided to come here to "kill time" while in the area. This estate is so gorgeous and well kept. The employees are all so knowledgeable and eager to share information with you. We didn't get to walk the gardens as much as I'd have liked but it was really warm and we had places to be - I fully intend on coming back with my kids, maybe around Christmas time to see the estate decorated. Definitely worth the money and time to visit!

I came here a couple of days ago with my cousin. Her and I were amazed at the beauty of this house and its gardens. Before we began the tour we made the time to view the movie about the Du Pont family who owned and lived in this amazing mansion. There were a few people who just walked out and bypassed this well informed history of the Du Pont family who had wealth, lost it and came back even richer than before.

The tour of this beautiful mansion is self guided so we were able to view and see each room at our own pace. The furnishings, bathroom, kitchen and everything else was way before its time. They even had a bowling alley and pool tables there. What we liked is in each room there was a guide telling us the history of what we were seeing and gladly answered our questions.

Then we took the shuttle bus to the garage. Unbelievable the cars this family had. The guide in the garage was fantastic and made sure we saw the one Rolls Royce that was never used. Mind boggling how much this car is worth today.

Then we did the open air shuttle that took us all around the property and lovely gardens. Afterward my cousin and I walked around the gardens admiring the fountains and statues. This is one beautiful property not to be missed . I highly recommend anyone who is in this area to come and enjoy as much as we did.

I had three sisters visiting so off to Nemours Mansion we went. The house was so beautiful. Built in France's Versailles fashion, it was very impressive and the docents are very informative. The formal French gardens are a site to behold. Don't miss this gem.

Plan to spend at least two hours and take the guided house tour (1 hr). Walk the extensive gardens and fountains. A bus takes you from the visitor center to the mansion. You can walk back through the gardens towards the visitor center after your house tour and the bus will pick you up along the way. This is similar to the Newport, RI mansions with a garden and fountains like the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. It's less than an hour drive from Philly.

Fantastic experience at the estate. The entire experience from the visitor orientation center to the self guided tours and garden strolls were exceptional.
A few tips: consider a picnic lunch and enjoy the tables ne t to the visitor center. Time your visit so that you arrive around 11:00, see the orientation film and exhibits, picnic on the comfortable tables outside and then take the shuttle to the mansion. Plan on 3-4 hours as there is so much to take in from the mansion to the world class gardens. Take the time to ask the staff questions as they are a great resource. Kathleen was particularly helpful and knowledgeable.
This is not your typical gilded age mansion as the rooms are mostly all accessible where you can get up close to objects and look out the windows and really get a feel for what it may have been like to live there. We hope to return for the holidays which was pitched to us by joe on our exit. Thank you

Toured the Nemours mansion. Beautifully maintained, knowledgeable staff and rich with history. Make sure to visit the garage.

Great insight into an important duPont family members life and skills. 1900s vintage mansion with futuristic engineering like backup energy sources, designed by Mr. duPont

Our Nemours tour began at Visitors Center (had the "passport " for $95 enabling us extensive array of historic sights) with a terrific video putting history into context. Took the "shuttle around the gardens and up to the house. The house shows engineering beyond the period and admirable philanthropy. Took a garden tour - her first guided group - and lovely! House is elegant- gardens are eye-candy

By all means take the guided tour in the house and ride the shuttle around the gardens. The statues are gorgeous and gardens are perfectly manicured. The entire house and contents were donated so the guided tour gives much more explanation of all the contents.

The trip was amazing. We get to see the historic house and other things. I should say that Mount Vernon is way better than this, because it has less trails to walk on, but this place is bigger than Mount Vernon. You can also get to see the cool cars that in the garage.

A visit to the Nemours Estate provides a glimpse into how the richest Americans lived during the Gilded Age and into the early 20th century. The Nemours Estate was built by A. I. Du Pont and was inspired by his French family origins. The mansion contains over 70 rooms and showcases the luxury afforded wealthy families during the age: electricity, running water, en suite bathrooms, music rooms, game rooms, and more. What is interesting about this estate is that it also allows visitors to go into the bowels of the mansion to see where servants lived and worked. The kitchen and servants' dining area is well preserved. In addition, you can see some of the mechanical marvels introduced by du Pont---industrial scale refrigeration, water filtration, and electric power. The chaffeur's garage, a considerable walk from the mansion, was a bit disappointing with its small collection of vintage American cars from the 30's to the 50's.

This estate is a must see if visiting the area. The grounds are spectacular and the mansion is truly a historical gem. You get a true feel for Alfred DuPont and the love he had for the entire estate. It was our first trip but definitely will return. We loved it!

self guided. really nice place that you can visit in your own pace. there are tour guides that answer any questions you may have.
beautiful place to visit

Spent several enjoyable hours at the Nemours Estate, another gem I was unaware of. We recently watched a video on Gilded Age mansions and it was featured. I love me a mansion and landscaped grounds and this did not disappoint. It’s self guided, but the docents are friendly and enthusiastic. It feels accessible in a way many of these places don’t- the rooms are veritable time capsules and you can wander through them, rather than only peer in. Highly recommend!!

Amazing experience- beautiful garden beyond description. Home and garage and art are incredible- overwhelmed Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Lovely way to spend the day. Loved it!!

i agree with all the other reviews. the mansion is magnificent and impressive. the tour guides are knowledgeable and friendly. the gardens are magnificent. we went in November, i can only imagine being there when flowers are in full bloom and the fountains are filled with water. it was better than i expected. you hear and see many many historical facts. history comes alive right before your eyes. we spent 3 hours and felt like we saw most of it, but there is much more of the gardens and trails to see. you can walk at your leisure. tour guides are posted in each room to explain each area, so you don't have to walk with a big group. you can go as fast or as slow as you would like. i definitely will go back in summer. fee was only $19. well worth it. shuttle buses cart you around if you need. my husband thoroughly enjoyed it also.

A beautiful Mansion that you tour yourself with stunning gardens and grounds. The bus drivers were full of knowledge and information, Everyone was very kind and it was lovely day.

The Nemours Estate is undisputedly the crown jewel attraction of Wilmington, Delaware and one of the world’s most beautiful locations to visit and sightsee.

In May of 2021, I brought and treated my wife and myself for a visit and self guided tour of the Nemours Estate. Upon visiting Nemours, both my wife and I were immediately awestruck by the sheer immense size of the estate and captivated by the numerous collection of French style gardens.

During our visit, my wife and I first viewed and took great pictures of the “Colonnade” a memorial designed by notable architect, Thomas Hastings, and which pays tribute to the DuPont patriarchs, Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours and his son Eleuthère Irénée du Pont.

In addition to viewing the Colonnade, my wife and I explore the estate’s vast collection of magestic gardens ranging from the “Sunken Gardens” the “Maze Garden” and the “Boxwood Gardens.” We also captured great pictures of the “Temple Of Love” the “Reflecting Pool” & the gold plated “Statue Of Achievement.” Each of these attractions are a mesmerizing sight to behold and fit perfectly with the surrounding gardens.

After visiting the gardens and statues, my wife and I visited and toured the home of Alfred I. DuPont, an absolute gorgeous French neoclassical mansion that is meant to resemble a French chateau.

While touring the mansion, my wife and I learned about the spectacular business and financial success of Alfred I DuPont (the builder and founder of the Nemours Estate, his relations with the DuPont Company and the other members of the DuPont family, and his enormous philanthropic contributions.

During our self guided tour of the mansion, my wife and I were enthralled with the mansion’s interior decor, and its vast and invaluable furnishings ranging from a Louis XVI musical clock, a chair that was used for the coronation of King George VI, a chandelier once owned by Marquis de Lafayette, and an extensive collection of rare antiques, artwork, and tapestries.

When visiting Wilmington, Delaware, the Nemours Estate must be at the very top of your list for places to visit and sightsee. You’ll be delighted with estate’s beauty and glamour!!!

Its hard to believe that someone lived here. The place is just over the top and amazing. We really enjoyed walking the grounds and I got some great photos

Went with a friend, who is about to move and had never been, and we had a wonderful day to remember. I couldn't take it all in and am planning on returning in the next couple weeks with another friend who will be visiting from N. Ireland.
They have guided tours, included in the admission, a couple times a day which is really nice, and there is also a Garden Tour offered, also inclusive, but unfortunately we didn't have enough time to take that. So much history of the DuPont family and so interesting even if you aren't a "history" buff. There are a couple picnic tables at the Visitor's Center if you want to bring a lunch however no other eating opportunities on location. There are eating establishments in the area though. The staff was wonderful and really made you feel at home. I can't wait to go back again!
Note: CLOSED MONDAYS for more info go to NemoursMansion.org

The house, staff and grounds were wonderful. We really enjoyed our visit and I appreciated that they provided a shuttle for me to and from the house and an elevator inside of the house since I am 80+ years old. The people inside of the house provided great additional insight into what we were seeing which was also appreciated. I HIGHLY recommend a visit to this site.

What I Liked Best:
- This place is awesome in terms of beauty and history
- Not crowded so we were able to tour at a leisurely pace
- Staff/Tour Guides are very knowledgable about the history of the place
- This is a place where you meditate due to the quiet atmosphere
- The Visitor Center is very inviting
- I liked the mini movie they present at the visitor center about the history of how the mansion came to be
- Ample free parking
- Free Tour Bus within the property
- Friendly Drivers
- Less than 2 hours from where I live so we can easily go for a return visit

What I Liked Least
- The Grand Fountain was under renovation so we missed it

Summary
- Nemours is a must-see place if you like history and nature
- You will need at least 3 hours to tour the mansion and garden

We were in Philadelphia, headed to Gettysburg, on a history filled trip and decided to take a 45 minute detour to the Nemours Mansion to check Delaware of the list of states visited. Definitely glad that we did. This house is truly impressive and original and the gardens and antique garage don’t disappoint. My 12 yo said it was his favorite stop over the 4 day weekend (keep in mind that he loves beautiful homes). Definitely consider stopping - I don’t think you will be disappointed

Excellent location to take children, teens, family, friends and guests. Some history about DuPont Family.
Largest formal gardens in US.

It’s like stepping into another country and it’s right in the backyard. A beautifully decorated chateau and amazing gardens. A must if in the area!

This is such a beautiful and fascinating place. The tour guides posted throughout the mansion were very helpful and informative. I went in December and it was a bit rainy so I did the inside only. It’s so well done from the mechanicals and mens rooms in the lower level to the kitchen and living areas on the main floor to the family and guest bedrooms on the third floor. I would have liked to see the servants’ quarters but they are not part of the tour.

Never heard of this place until a High school friend of mine decided to meet in Wilmington for a girls weekend....read about the estate and decided to give it a go....First of all the staff was fabulous and knowledgeable and treated us like old friends. It felt so much like a real home and you could immediately tell its a beloved place. Many of the wealthy men of today could learn something about the generosity of Mr. du Pont...never knew about him and glad now I'm so happy I do now....Great American history!!!

I went with a friend on the day of an event, with discounted admission- it was only $1.50 to get in and everyone was dressed up in period costumes! It was an extremely fun day and the estate was beautiful!

Free parking and discounts available - I was given free admission as military. Your house experience is self-guided with docents strategically placed throughout for questions. All extremely friendly. There is also a 20-minute driving tour around the estate operated by staff (max is 18 per so get there early or expect to wait in line).

Our recent visit to the Nemours Mansion on a beautiful Spring day felt like we had been transported to the countryside of France. The mansion and grounds have a French European feel and are simply beautiful. Although this is a mansion built by the late Alfred Dupont for his wife it had the feel of a real home rather than a museum like feel. The furnishings were beautiful but didn't feel overly stuffy. The tour guides were very friendly, informative and approachable.. You were also permitted to take pictures inside the home which is uncommon. Make sure you give yourself time to tour the garage area as well. The vehicles are like pieces of art.

This trip was a bittersweet reminds me of Europe where I came from
Love the estate just beautiful
I took so many pictures.

Fabulous estate and interesting family story -A.I DuPont was a real leader and his legacy reflects his interest in people.

Most people know about Winterthur, the other Dupont family home. We actually became aware of this other Dupont property from TripAdvisor. Decided to make a stop here on our car trip. What a discovery.

From the visitor center, one can either take the van to the mansion or to the garden. We visited the garden first. The driver/guide was very informative and pointed out the little details, as well as the history, of the creation of the gardens. One look and one can surmise that this is a formal French-designed garden, reminiscent of the gardens of Versailles. There were statues scattered about the garden. Our guide pointed out the giant weeping beech tree and the gnomes under the trees in one section.
The Temple of Love with a statue of Diana sits prominently on one end. We got off and decided to walk around and savor the atmosphere of these gardens. Unfortunately, the fountains were not working that day.

At the mansion, each room or section had guides who pointed out various extravagant elements in the room. The entry hall had paintings of members of the Dupont family. The main floor rooms were mainly of French design, except the library and study which were more English. The Lafayette chandelier was one notable feature as one took the stairs to the upper floor. Even the basement floor was interesting showing the kitchen and the hallway with collections acquired by the master of the house. Alfred also had a private study down there, hidden away from everyone in the family. There was a bowling alley, billiard room, and card room to entertain everyone. It seemed like a mini resort and made one wonder at the lifestyle of the super rich.

Even the garage was beautifully built. Inside the garage, vintage cars owned by the family were on display. One particular car, the Phantom V Rolls Royce, is special. The guide told us that Jay Leno himself made an unsuccessful attempt to buy this car for his collection.

Definitely worth a visit.

The duPont's lived a life of luxury most of us will never comprehend. The story of the duPont's is intriguing and the lineage is fun to follow. The house and grounds here are just as impressive as every other duPont estate. The staff was friendly and informative. Definitely worth a trip.

Been to Longwood Gardens and Winterthur, so thought it was time to see another DuPont estate. Classically french, in both house, furniture, and gardens. They boast 77 rooms in the mansion but I don't think we saw more than 20-24 ( don't get me wrong, that was enough, but the brochure says 77 rooms, just sayin'). The staff in the mansion were charming and well informed. The lovely Versailles-style gardens are walkable in under an hour (easily). Price is about normal for museums now.

Note: The Visitor Center tells you you can take a shuttle to the mansion, or walk. What they don't tell you is, if you take the shuttle up and decide to walk back you can not leave the property on foot—the exit gate says NO PEDESTRIAN EXIT. Nowhere in any of the literature does it mention that fact; no shuttle schedule is posted anywhere, and when I called the number on the website, it went to voicemail. It is the first time in my life I was held prisoner in a museum—that was not on my bucket list. I still recommend going; it is quite pretty, but check with the desk for shuttle schedules, pedestrian exit areas, and any other thing that you normally wouldn't question.

One final note: no restaurant, cafe or snack area of any kind.

This was the estate built by Alfred DuPont.
The beautiful mansion can be seen on a self guided tour and is filled with all sorts of art and fine furnishings. Don't forget to see the bowling alley, billiard room and Mr. DuPont's office in the basement area. It really is like a giant jewelry box filled with untold treasures but no matter how beautiful the house itself might be it's the gardens that impress visitors to Nemours the most. They're billed as the largest French style gardens in the country and I'll agree that the many fountains, sculptures and lush plantings did at times remind of the gardens of Versailles the most famous of French chateaux. Take the time to walk as much as possible to explore some of the garden's hidden corners. Playful fountains contrasting against the greenery will make some excellent photo opportunities too. Look out for some of the strategically placed garden gnomes that Mrs. DuPont brought back from a trip to Karlsbad (today Karlovy Vary,Czech Republic). It's a most beautiful estate and well worth a visit for those who love old homes,antiquities,or French style gardens.
Very important to try to plan your visit on a day of good weather since a good part of your time will be outside in the gardens.

I have visited a number of decorated mansions and "cottages," but this was the best I have seen. A friend and I spent several weekday hours there and still did not see everything. We have traveled to other mansions and agreed that we liked this one even better than the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina because Nemours is much more livable, the guides shared many more interesting facts and stories about the home and its former inhabitants, and visitors are free to roam about in rooms that are not roped off or museum-like. Nemours houses spectacular furnishings and historical pieces, but there is a warmth and a grandeur that is also inviting, that makes visitors feel more like guests than observers. The guides are a wealth of information, and we were fortunate to take a half hour tour that was interesting an made us want to learn more about the lives and history of the DuPonts. Guides strategically placed on each floor happily answered questions and engaged in conversations. We were especially moved by the numerous family photos and portraits the made this feel like a real home, not just a tourist attraction. The grounds and the magnificent landscaping literally took our breath away. Again, guess are free to wander about, and the map is easy to follow and descriptive. A shuttle takes you to the home and is available at many stops throughout the grounds; even the friendly driver admitted that he is awed by the beauty of the estate. Once you enter the gilded gates, you feel like you have entered a magical land - and it is well worth the trip! The entrance cost is reasonable, parking is available in their lot, and - shocking! - there is no gift store. This is a must-see stop on strip to Delaware!

We've been to many Gilded Age mansions from Newport down to Miami and over to the Biltmore. My all-time favorite has always been The Breakers, but oh boy has Nemours changed my ranking. This estate is exquisite in every way. The house itself is gorgeous with the finest finishes, architectural details and decor. While it's 77 rooms, it has a homey feel to it. The downstairs areas, though masculine in everyday from the entertaining areas, to the trophy hallway to the mechanics was as intriguing as the living areas of the home. The bottling room and the ice making room were so innovative. Once outside, you can find yourself meandering through various gardens, each with its own personality and characteristics. Everything was gorgeous. We spent 5 hours on the estate. All staff members we encountered were so pleasant. The moment we entered into the Welcome Center the employee there made sure to get us onto the garden tour shuttle. This small bus was driven by a very funny and witty gentleman that provided us with wonderful details about all the gardens and the statues and other land features around the property. The interpreters in the house were totally knowledgeable about Alfred, his three wives, the house and other aspects of Alfred's life. The interpreters rotate around parts of the house so you are likely to see them more than once. They will remember you so be sure to pick up your conversation where you left off in another part of the house. This was one of the only mansions where you can go all the way into some of the rooms and bathrooms. It was spectacular to roam freely within these rooms. Definitely visit this estate and plan to spend the entire day. They welcome picnic lunches on the grounds. Be sure to stop in the gift shop which is the former laundry center and spend time in the garage marveling at the classic cars. The admission price is very fair compared to other estates I've visited, must of which don't offer the type of experience found at Nemours.
I'd like to give a shout out to Andre who helped me find a hidden object in the billard room. Another shout out to the gentleman who took over Andre's post in the billiard room. I enjoyed speaking with him about his time building cars on an assembly line. And finally to the gentleman who greeted us upon arrival at the front door. I think his name may be Kenny (middle-aged, African American). He was so welcoming. It felt as if an old friend was inviting us into his home for lunch! This was a great experince all around.

What an amazing experience and find, I almost felt like I was in France visiting a mini Versailles. No expense was spared by Alfred DuPont in the construction of the mansion and gardens; it is furnished impeccably with family touches. The docents really make the visit special - each telling about the rooms they are in and willing to answer questions about the house and family. The gardens are magnificent - the fountains and statuary are beyond compare. I would say that once entering the hospital grounds we were confused as to the location of the estate (signage would have been helpful) but one of the hospital staff directed us to the entrance.

Pure opulence. Wonderful tour, beautiful grounds and a garage with some of the finest classic luxury cars ever built. Well worth a visit.

This beautiful Mansion that once belonged to Alfred DuPont is fabulous and fascinating. The gilding and the masonry everywhere is gorgeous, the chandeliers are awe-inspiring, the portraits and the artwork are displayed perfectly in appropriate locations, and the gardens and fountains are amazing. The Grand Staircase, the Great Reception Hall and the Sun Room were some of our favorite spots for taking photographs with us featured in them.

We started off with a movie at the Visitor Center that gave us a little history of the DuPont family, and the reason why Alfred decided to build this mansion. We followed that with a Tram Tour of the impressive Gardens. The pleasant driver provided us with a lot of information about the Statues, the Fountains, and the pretty Ponds, plus the massive ancient Trees, flowering shrubs and flowers scattered around. There are no words to describe the beauty and the scope of the land here, other than “Wow”.

The tour of the Mansion is a self-guided walking one, but there are several docents stationed throughout who are fantastic, knowledgeable, super-friendly and extremely willing to offer any help as needed, and impart any information when requested. They will pleasantly regale you with stories and the histories of the family when asked questions. They all seemed to go the extra mile to provide a very pleasant experience for us during our visit. The descriptive plaques everywhere in all the rooms also gave us a good idea of what life would have been like in that era.

The view of the Versailles-like garden from one of the bedrooms above was incredible. It is very obvious that a lot of care and effort has been put in the maintenance of the Grounds as well as the Mansion. We loved the fact that the tour is self-guided. This allowed us to linger at the spots pertaining to our particular areas of interest. The entire house is filled with interesting artifacts, travel souvenirs and historical tidbits. Even the Basement was surprisingly amazing. It has a Bowling Alley, an early Otis Cage Elevator, Exercise Rooms, Billiard Room, and Alfred’s cozy office with Trophies, Sword Collections, and War Memorabilia displayed prominently. There is even a scale model of the USS Idaho where his son served.

The generosity of the DuPont family is legendary. We saw one of the brightly colored Children’s Hospitals adjacent to the property. Our final visit was to the Chauffeur’s Garage where there were five shiny, sparkling Antique Cars which were amazing just to look at. Imagine riding in them!

Walking everywhere is possible, but there are Shuttle Buses running constantly to take people everywhere if they do not want to do so. The docents have walkie-talkies and call them so you do not have to wait for more than a few minutes.

We spent a good two and a half hours here, and enjoyed every minute of our visit. To make sense of everything, please make sure that you read up a little about the DuPont family history before arriving. We are glad we had done that, and it made our trip doubly enjoyable.

Absolutely recommend a visit to this wonderful place. We would love to come again.

What a lovely estate. The grounds were very attractive and we enjoyed the tour of the home as well. There were docents who shared information about the home and answered questions but it was a nice leisurely self-guided tour.

The visitors center provides an informative video and timeline for the history of the estate and the Dupont family, but the mansion really stole the show. The tour includes time at the garage with luxury vehicles owned by the family, a driving tour around the gardens, and the majority of time with a guide learning about the family and home. Very helpful and informative staff throughout. The Christmas decorations were in keeping with the mansion's history and skillfully done by the staff who obviously care about this local historic treasure.
The visitor parking/entry is easy to miss. A mini-bus takes you through the grounds and to the mansion. I would like to go back in warmer weather to better appreciate the gardens.

This historic estate owned by Alfred DuPont is an impressive site, well worth seeing if you are interested in gorgeous architecture and flower filled grounds. We arrived early, around 10 a.m., opening time, on a Wednesday morning and it was not very busy. Start by viewing the orientation film at the Visitor's Center, about 20 minutes long, to learn about what you will see. Then walk outside to ride the shuttle bus which takes you to the mansion. Mr. DuPont designed it to look like Versailles in France. Periodically a docent is available to take you on a 30 minute or so tour of the basement, which included the men's smoking Quarter, billiard table and other things of interest. She also was very informative. You can then tour the upper two floors on your own, but docents are posted throughout to answer questions and offer explanations. Highlights are also posted to read. After the mansion, take a five minute walk to the Chauffeur 's garage to see several vintage cars, children's pony cart and an antique boat. A narrated Garden Loop tour departs from this area, which was also very interesting. The grounds are vast so this is a good way to see them. A wonderful glimpse into the life of the wealthy in the early 1900's. Highly recommend!!

I've been to many historical mansions, but the staff at Nemours was one of the best. Especially one of the older gentlemen, who I didn't get his name. They provided many great details regarding the history of the property.

If you live in Delaware like I do you then you already know how important the DuPont family was to this area. This was one of their estates and one of several they eventually donated to the public as a museum. It’s worthwhile to visit and learn some local history.

Other DuPont museums include Hagley, Winterthur, and Longwood Gardens. Each is unique but my favorite is Hagley. Nemours was their home. Hagley was their factory.

This is the DuPont version of France's Versailles and it is very impressive. The gardens are huge and beautiful. Don't miss the limousine "shed" to see DuPont's cars. This is a self-guided tour so you can move at your own pace. Staff in each room are available if you have questions and are happy to tell each room's story.

My husband and I visited during a holiday event and the mansion was absolutely breathtaking! The staff is so knowledgeable and friendly - happy to share all about the interesting history of the house. Make sure to check out the bowling alley in the basement!

We have visited all the usual area attractions like Longwood, Winterthur etc and Nemours is just as much a must see at any season. Spectacular and interesting

Excellent glimpse into what extreme wealth looked like in the early 1900's as well how the DuPont's lived. This is a combination mansion, gardens and even car museum, with every inch opulent and stunning. The staff and guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. Alfred I. DuPont also endowed the A. I. Dupont Children's Hospital in-perpetuity making him a great American philanthropist.

We had a few hours before our return home and stopped at this museum. Given the cold weather, we toured the house. It is worth taking a guided tour as we learned so many interesting facts about the family, their possessions and the history of the estate. The furnishings are intact to the time when the family lived here which makes it so neat. And Alfred DuPont was way ahead of his time in so many ideas he created for the house and the things he put into it, like a back up generator; controls in his bathroom to make sure tings were working properly; bottling his water, 2 tanks with 1 for back up and so on. Fascinating to hear the stories too.

This was a fun tour with a toddler and teenager. Beautiful and interesting piece of Delaware’s history.

If you want to take the wedding photo, I think it is a great place to be. Please make sure if they allow to do that.

Beautiful grounds and "house". The staff from the ticket booth to the guides are all excellent. Don't forget to see the basement area with its bowling alley.

The directions are a bit confusing to get to the area. One has to go through the hospital area (you'll learn about the Estae's connection to the hospital on the tour. Also, follow the signs to the Estate parking.

This is one of the best homes we have toured & we have done a lot!!
So beautiful, great service by staff through the house & grounds. All rooms have someone giving you information yet it’s still self guided. Great combo. Loved the 20 min shuttle to see the outer ground. Sign up for that when you arrive. The grounds are just as lovely. The 47,000 sq foot house with 77 rooms as well as the garage are all worth seeing. Although there are 4 floors, only 3 are viewable. Basement is a must see and the main floor & second floor family rooms. Mr. DuPont had every latest invention to make life more enjoyable, but also helped those in need & treated his staff very well. The grounds & gardens are stunning. We were here for 3 hours, but honestly could have stayed a little longer if we had had the time. Allow time to fully see this location.

Mom and I Planned a visit to Longwood Gardens and researched places to visit on the way. This place is a “must see”. The gardens are beautiful and the mansion is spectacular! Plan on at least 3-4 hours. They provide a van so walking can be as much or as little as you want. Don’t miss the garage! Simply amazing! I’ve read some of these reviews about the docents and I found everyone pleasant and friendly.

Absolute gorgeous place, both on the inside and outside. Staff is excellent and is eager to give you explanation of every item in every room .
very interesting to observe the workings of the mansion, such as kitchen, call buttons, etc.

This is about a 4 hour adventure. You see most of the property on a bus. Then you can walk the property as far as you want. Beautiful fountains and gardens and a few old cars.

I highly recommend this site because the docents were incredibly knowledgeable and willing to engage in discussion. The property is magnificent, and they helped elucidate the historic context.

I liked this better then the hyped Winterthur, as it has not been bastardized into a weird museum. This house still feels like a home and gives a true sense of how the Duponts lived. It also emphasizes the life of A.I. Dupont which is worth admiration.

Thursday evening they are open late so when planning if you need extra time to fit things in then you can spend the afternoon at Hagley and then go upto Nemours for late afternoon evening tours as they are very close to one another.

You cannot walk into or out of the grounds so make sure you understand the bus schedule and locations of the stops. The tour is self guided though and not timed.

Beautiful grounds and gardens! The home itself has every amenity imaginable for the time in which it was built and more....beautifully maintained

Of all the DuPont properties I enjoyed this one the most. Our tour guide was fantastic and she did a wonderful job explaining all the history of the home. The carriage house is also must.

Nemours is not as well known as the other DuPont museums, perhaps because it is fairly new to being open to the public. I liked it very much. The house is lovely and eclectic; you can imagine people living here (unlike Winterthur, which was always planned as a museum). The gardens are beautiful but not so large as Winterhur or Longwood. The story of Alfred DuPont and his wives is fascinating.

We were a group of five and arranged to have a friend guide us. We would have missed so much by just wandering through the house self-guided. Our guide was so informative, and provided so much background detail we otherwise would have. Issued.it was a great hour-plus tour.

Went with our group of 15, minimum group size, and couldn't have a better experience. The initial video was helpful, but could have a visual family tree added. Treated very well by all the staff guiding, driving and recounting the history. Christmas decorations included the DuPont's nativity creche and tree ornaments. (The signage from Alapocas Dr.into the Nemours Estate Vistor Center should be more obvious, esp.for first- time guests.)

Since we have not gone to Europe since Covid we have tried to maximize our US experiences traveling back and forth to our home in FL and then back to CT. In the fall we saw Longwood Gardens and Winterthur and now we stopped here. Beautiful gardens reminiscent of the French chateau country and wonderful house museum on the grounds of Nemour Childrens Hospital . Alfred DuPont was brilliant and lived well but in the end he left his house as a museum for the public to see and he built the Hospital. Truly a benign despot. It’s worth stopping on your busy life to and from somewhere else.

The story of Alfred DuPont was very interesting to hear and read about. We did the self guided tour and all of the attendants inside were very helpful and informative. What impressed me most were all of the technological innovations utilized within the house.

The mansion was beautifully decorated for Christmas. The rooms are so beautiful they would still be something to see without the decorations. On the shuttle to the mansion from the visitors center, you can see how manicured the gardens must be in season and can't wait to go back in the Spring. What I thought was nice is that they have seats around if someone needs to sit while touring the house. You don't really see that in historic homes.

We stopped here before Longwood - and I wish I would have spent more times in the garden here because they are better than Longwood!

Beautiful formal gardens here. The house is great. However, I wish they had an audio guide! There are employees around but most were not very interactive or were engaged with other tourist. Vizcaya in Miami was similar to this - but had an audio guide and it really added to the experience. I was left wanting to know more about the family.

Without a guide it seems a bit overpriced. We spent just under two hours here.

I've now taken the guided tour 3 times and each time I learn something new, plus additional areas have been opened up as of my last visit. Be sure to watch the video/movie before heading over to the mansion. Only awkward part is the need to sign up for guided tours, which cannot be done until you arrive at the mansion, and in our case, with 4 of us, we had to wait an hour for another tour as the one we wanted was already filled. Of course there is plenty to see in the meantime, but I think there might be a better way to schedule the guided tours.

This family home with all its glamour , still captures a home like setting . Very cool way they brought ice into the house back then too

I am a native to the area but have never had a chance to visit. What gem. I arrived to find a full parking lot on a Saturday afternoon. They do have an overflow lot, but luckily someone left and we took that space. Economical, only $18 for an adult. My group started in the visitor center; a video, a timeline, both for the DuPont family but also a world history timeline as well since the family has been settled in the area since practically our nations founding. It was informative. Take the van up to the house and once you pass through the gates, well you really do hearken back to a different time. The English gates gleamed in the hot sun and you really get a sense of time travel. My group signed up for a guided tour, but to start, I chose the second floor of the house to peruse on my own. My favorite room turned out to be Alicia DuPont's room, both sitting/dressing and bathroom area. I felt it was most elegant and what can I say, what girl does not love a great clothes closet. I also loved the Indoor Garden/Sunroom. That was a great room overall, functional as an indoor garden but could be easily transformed into whatever was desired. I also like rooms with lots of light, so that made this room an obvious choice. Surprisingly, I found most of the rooms, very lived in for as wealthy as this family was, not overly ornate or "tacky". One of the few homes I feel that could be tweaked for a modern family and made very viable to live in. Not that this home will be on the market anytime soon but some homes feel like museums, this does not have that feel. It is a credit to A.I. specifically. The guided tour was very well done, informative, and I enjoyed the brandy and cigar room most. There you got to sit on the furniture and it was comfy for a built in. The garage next, and the walk down was lovely through a grape arbor. The cars were nice but since they are not my strength in terms of knowledge, I felt just a bit indifferent about it. But I have to say its probably the closest I will ever get to a classic Rolls Royce Phantom. That was my favorite one. It was beautiful. Finished the day on the grounds, taking the grounds tour tram and then walking to various points of interest. The day of my visit, the gardens looked fabulous from a distance but as I walked through various gardens, many plants up close looked a little unkempt and under water stress. The formal gardens for instance, I saw much deadheading that needed to take place. Also I found the formality of this garden a little less than stellar. A certain level of expected tidiness just was not there. The frog pond was also empty of water and just had pots in them. The museum offers a garden tour it on certain days but just a regular offering everyday would be a nice addition. This is a great day trip for locals and tourists alike, and was by far my favorite of the DuPont estates in this area. If possible, combine this with Hagley Museum as the powder mills were where A.I. built his early life and established himself within the company. I am hoping to visit again in the fall to check out some fall color.

Must visit place in Delaware. The Mansion was beautifully made and loved how it is decorated inside. The landscape gardens are breathtaking. Go See for yourself 😊

A fantastic place to visit. Beautiful gardens and the mansion is exquisite. The one downside we experienced is that you must take a shuttle bus from the visitor center to the mansion. We had going and coming the grumpiest bus driver ever.people would ask a question and he would say "look at the map" rather then answer. One person asked a question about the connecting bus for the garden loop and he said " I already told you what to do". Conversely the docents in the mansion and where the cars are displayed were excellent.

I was the group leader recently for more than 30 senior citizens as we toured the Nemours Estate and Gardens.

This was a fabulous tour from start to finish. The admin team was responsive and made booking the tour easy.

Upon arrival, we were greeted immediately, welcomed to the Estate and sent on our way. We enjoyed a brief film that detailed the life and history of Alfred I. duPont. We then boarded two shuttles that took our group on tours of the gardens and of the mansion.

The grounds and buildings are beautifully maintained. The shuttle drivers and tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The staff didn’t miss a beat and kept our group on schedule.

We all loved our visit and we very much look forward to returning to the beautiful Nemours Estate and Gardens.

We have visited Nemours on several occasions and always enjoy the time we spend touring the house, gardens and the car collection.

I was in the Wilmington area for a triathlon and stopped at the Nemours Estate because I had a few hours free. I had never heard of it, but it’s spectacular. There’s a huge mansion, magnificent manicured gardens with sculptures and fountains and a garage with a collection of old Rolls Royce’s.

The mansion can be visited via self-guided tour, so you can go at your own pace. The signage is good but there are also docents available to provide information. There are 77 rooms on three floors and all of the original ornate rococo stylings and furnishings are here as well as an impressive art collection.

The entire estate is nearly as impressive as Versailles. But unlike Versailles, Nemours is mercifully uncrowded. Even on a weekend there were only a few dozen visitors on the entire estate. Nemours is a hidden gem.

A present to A.I. DuPont's second wife, Nemours is 300 acres of lush well-kept greens, mansion, fountains, and gardens. It includes a half dozen antique cars and period rooms inside the spacious mansion. Parts of it look like it was inspired by Versailles in France.

At one of the fountains, you are permitted to remove your shoes and dip your feet in. My boys, 5 and 3, enjoyed this. The one knock on the grounds is that many of the paths are made of gravel. It's not very stroller or wheelchair friendly.

What a splendorous place, BUT we SORELY MISSED the ongoing and informative house tours of years past. The docents placed throughout the house were pleasant and knowledgeable. Nonetheless, we did feel thrown to the wolves. And what of the on-site-bottled water giveaways?

Beautiful, tranquil setting of early 20th century largess. Take the tram garden tour included in your ticket price as it lays out the estate better for you along with learning history. Wear good walking shoes and pack water as there is no cafe on premises. House is self guided with docents interspersed throughout. Grounds are well-kept with benches and bathrooms throughout the property. They offer a senior discount too.

Wow! No words to describe this place. The staff was very friendly and informative, they kept asking us if we had questions, they were able to explain every single detail about the family and the mansion.
We couldn't believe it only took 14 months to build the man$ion.
There was a lot of good information about A.I. DuPont, his life fe, his business and his family.
The mansion was so beautiful, so was the art and decor.
The gardens were spectacular ... a little Versailles! It was really hot to be out in the gardens but we enjoyed them very much.
We will be back in the fall to walk around the gardens, hopefully the pool is renovated by then.

We arrived late in the afternoon and had to wait for a shuttle to take us to the mansion. It took longer than the desk clerk told us and we missed some of the inside exhibits in order to stand outside waiting for the shuttle. Allow plenty of time.

WOW! This is a self guided tour, but every room had informative guides that offered up tidbits of information and were incredibly friendly, they seemed to really love their jobs. There was a movie as well as time line information in the main entrance. Everyone was really helpful and informative.
The garden grounds had very specific times for tours, and unfortunately we were not able to do one of these tours. Next time.
A must see place when in Wilmington.

I loved touring the estate. It was truly a lovely day, and the estate was worth visiting. The grounds are lovely.

I have driven through Wilmington literally hundreds of time over many years and never had the time to stop here. With a couple of hours available, I finally went over and found that I had been missing such a little gem here. The story is interesting, and the house is very well kept. Many rooms have clear plastic chairs you can sit on to have a photo of yourself in the house. Docents are well informed and eager to speak. A part of the garden is under renovation.

Where is that you can visit and see; a beautiful American Palace, incredible flora and fauna, water features galore, memorials, walk miles of scenic trails and some of the best art outside of a museum I have ever seen... plus more? Nemours Mansion. I've said everything that can be said of the historic site. Except. The people who are docents at the mansion are spectacular. Knowledgeable and friendly.

I had visited the mansion and gardens many years ago. Since that time, the mansion has undergone a major renovation, and what were guided tours have become self-guided, for the most part. I really enjoyed my visit.

I began by watching an excellent video in the visitors' center, which tells about the life and times of Alfred I. DuPont. The visitors center also has some informative displays about DuPont and the mansion.

I then took the shuttle bus to the mansion. Unlike many mansions open for tours, virtually everything in the Nemours Mansion is original; and yet it is in beautiful condition.

Although the tour is self-guided, there are friendly and knowledgeable staff members stationed around the mansion to provide information and answer questions. There are also what could best be described as historical markers for each room providing interesting information about who used each room and how it was used.

The mansion is large, with many rooms. I spent at least two hours in the mansion itself: main floor, upstairs, and downstairs. (Photography is permitted, as long as the flash is not used.)

I then took a twenty-minute narrated bus ride around the grounds. I hiked to the chauffeur's garage, which has several lovely antique cars the DuPonts owned. I then walked around and took pictures of the gardens.

Right now, there is major renovation going on in the reflecting pool, so the fences and construction vehicles are smack dab in the middle of the gardens in front of the mansion. The frog pond is also drained at the moment. But the gardens are still spectacular. I may have devoted another hour or so just to the gardens.

One caveat to parents of small children is that guests have to exercise great care to avoid touching objects, sitting on furniture, et cetera in the museum. So "parental discretion is advised." One other caveat is that there is no place on the premises to purchase lunch. It is possible to leave the grounds, have lunch, and return the same day.

This was my second time coming back to Nemours and my boyfriend’s first time. We first did the shuttle which was very informative and a great overview of the history of the family and the places around the ground. We then took a walk down to the Chauffeurs garage and received some very interesting information about the cars. The house was our favorite part. It is gorgeous. The docents are very informed and we loved asking them questions and learning more. I liked that I was able to leave my backpack in a locker while touring the house. While the one section of the fountains was closed off we still loved taking pictures of the open gardens around the house. Overall this section trip was very nice! Ticket prices were good as we used our student discount, and we spent 2-3 hrs here.

Before you even go inside, the grounds and gardens will leave you stunned ( the Chinese peonies smelled like heaven). We started first at the Sunken Gardens and then worked our way up to the mansion, marveling at the chubby angelic cherubs and fantastical beasts of the fountains. The mansion is mind blowing in its splendor and detail- DuPont was an engineer so every mechanical idea that was cutting edge is in this house- bowling alley, dark room, ice maker, boiler room, central vacuum system (whaaaa?!). There’s so much to see and enjoy but the most important part of the whole experience are the docents stationed in every area, waiting to dazzle you with interesting facts and answers to all your questions! They add such depth to the history and make the DuPont family come alive (his third wife Jessie seems like such a character). I have to give a special shout out to Terry who’s a real hoot, Paula who really spilled the tea on the weddings and wives, and the docent in the garage whose name I didn’t get but who has driven all 6 cars including the $900k Rolls Royce (he remembers Jessie DuPont riding around Wilmington in one of them:) What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!

We went midweek and it was not crowded at all. We loved this estate due to its history and beautiful ambiance. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable! Don’t forget to see all the gardens on the property. Best to take the free shuttle tour on the grounds first so you can get aquatinted with the estate.
There are No restaurants or snack shops on the estate so pack a lunch and eat in the gardens. There are free lockers when you enter the estate so you can store your drinks, food and other items.
Enjoy! Make a day out of it.
Open 10-5

House is a monument to excess. Gardens are just okay and not very well maintained. On the positive there were several original paintings from master artists.

Allow yourself a few hours for this one. We did not get an audio tour with this home, but it was still very beautiful and well done. Leave ample time to explore the grounds and to see where the nice cars are kept.

Just such a friendly place great staff and the grounds are spectacular just full of color. The manision is fascinating very original and full of fun rooms to explore and dream of life as a billionaire:) They car museum was also just stunning with pristine cars to view. I loved everything it was just a wonderful experience and we will be back !

We visited the first week in April, when the grounds had just opened for the season. The fountains were not turned on yet and the gardens were not in full bloom, but it in no way deterred from the absolute beauty of the grounds. The mansion itself was a self guided tour, but there were docents through out the house that were friendly, informative and a plethora of knowledge. They even took the time to point things out to the kids and entertained all their questions. It was a real history lesson. We were encouraged to visit the garage which doubled as the chauffeur quarters. The vintage artifacts housed in the garage are worth the walk over. We spent a full afternoon touring the grounds and appreciating the history of this place.

If you have time, squeeze a visit to Nemours into your visits to Longwood and Winterthur. Only diminished in importance In relation to it’s more famous “cousins”, but offers a different perspective. Tough to find. Not enough signage. You must go through the Nemours Hospital property to access the new entrance to Nemours. Both floors of the house are open to self-touring. Very helpful staff in most of the rooms. Don’t miss the chauffeurs garage. Two hours is sufficient to tour the house and grounds.

My husband and I had a wonderful day at Nemours - it definitely felt like we had been transported to France! The gardens were beautiful and the house was exquisite. The docents were all very knowledgable and enthusiastic. We would especially like to thank the gentleman who recommended that we visit Hagley, another DuPont home which we had never heard of. That was another great day learning about the DuPont legacy. Nemours does not have dining facilities but they encourage picnics and have a lovely spot for that overlooking a pond.

A stunning mansion in the middle of a large plot of land. We didn’t know anything about the DuPonts going in, and we learned so much. Be sure to take one of the guided tours; the guides are very knowledgeable and provide a wealth of information that you just wouldn’t find walking around on your own.

The outdoors were also very beautiful even in the fall when the flowers are not in bloom and most of the trees are bare. The largest French gardens in the US. What a great find!

Walking through the gardens recently, I was disappointed that they were not well manicured. Thistles, weeds, and untrimmed hedges. Never expected it to look so unkempt. Riding the bus, you might not notice. The mansion inside is nice if you don't mind children running around and little explanation. This place is so different that a few years ago. It has changed for the worse. Avoid busy times.

Very near to our place so we decided to see it and worth the visit, they made a great nurturing of this place for us to enjoy it.

Would have liked to have seen it, but arrived at 4:02 due to traffic and unpleasant ticket seller who refused to sell tickets because it was after 4:00. Two minutes?!? Really? Won’t be back.

Enjoyed a lovely few hours at this beautiful estate. The grounds and fountains echo those I saw in St. Petersburg. The really nice thing about the mansion is that you have free range throughout to go into the rooms, very few of which have any restrictions. For example you can sit at the head of the dining room table to experience the room as it would have been if you were a dinner guest.There are notes on some of the tables in the rooms that add interesting details about the house. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Would recommend the escorted tour of the game rooms and basement.

Beautiful former manse of A.I. DuPont. Particularly liked the entrance hall and conservatory. Less grand by Newport standards seemed very family livable if one were wealthy. Grounds nicely landscaped and would be wonderful in blooming season.

What a surprise to discover this amazing garden and family home. Wonderful tram tour and Colleen’s guided garden walk was so informative including stories of meeting family members, and sharing memories, certainly narrowed the gap between the DuPonts of privilege and working folks . All suffer loss and challenging relationships. In the end, helping others makes a life well lived. Staff was especially friendly and willing to share their expertise. Just an amazing place. One fact I found curious was how DuPont filtered and bottled water from the estate and even brought it on vacation.

Came to view Christmas decorations; will be back in May for the gardens in bloom! This incredibe DuPont family mansion was gorgeous, extremely well maintained and a must-see historical site for anyone visiting northern Delaware or the greater Philadelphia / Wilmington region. The daily pass provides access to the mansion, the gardens and the Chauffers' garage, which houses several Rolls Royce cars and other family vehicles. Don't miss the gift shop, housed in a separate building that served as the mansion's laundry. Very knowledgeable and friendly docents provide an intimate look into the lives of the DuPont family members.

We chose to take the guided tour so that we could see as much as possible while we were there. Our docent wasn't very well informed and in fact, we found the answers on the plaques right there in the rooms to some of the questions that were asked when she couldn't answer them herself. She kept saying over and over again that what she was telling us was true and that she wouldn't make it up. Well, I certainly hope that someone leading a tour would give only facts. She spent so much time repeating things that we ran out of time and she said she was going on break and we could tour the rest of it ourselves. I hope we got to see it all, because it was closing and we had to leave before we felt that we had seen everything that there was to enjoy.

What an amazing estate. We absolutely loved our visit. The visitor’s center building is impressive in design, it set the stage for the mansion. The gardens are breathtaking!!! We stayed for almost 4 hours. Only small thing that was disappointing, we did the garden tour drive and could barely hear the driver’s explanations, but it gave us the lay out of the property.
The furnishings and art are really impressive. It was just a wonderful day and we can’t wait to go back again!

Worth the trip. Mansion is in original state with DuPont personal effects and furniture. The grounds are beautiful the fountains lovely and their story is beautiful. The people who work there are so knowledgeable in a personal way. They tell great stories and help you get a glimpse of what life was like for the family. Take your time there and explore the grounds. The gardens are a replica of Versailles. Will return in summer to see it differently.

The Nemours Mansion and Gardens are just lovely. The staff that met us at the entrance were kind and informative. Seeing as that a member of our group was in a wheelchair, they were sure to let us know that a lift in the mansion was out of order, but the elevator was okay. As long as we could make it up five steps we would be okay. They also offered us a ride back and forth to the mansion in a golf cart. The staff in the mansion was eager to interact with us and share knowledge about the house and the DuPonts as we went from room to room. We were even offered bottles of water on this very hot day.

One thing I did not realize was that the mansion closed at 4:30 PM. According to the website it is open until 5:00 PM. We were told that this only applies to the grounds. I wish the website was more specific. Also, the website says that the gardens and grounds are not handicap accessible (just paved roads that run through the property), but this is not completely true. Those paved roads run through some of the gardens so you can see them. I wish I would have known all these things so I would’ve allotted my time appropriately.

Overall, a wonderful experience and I would recommend Nemours to everyone.

On a Friday morning I visited Nemours. It was a sunny fall/autumn day and the garden looked stunning.

I took the bus tour around the grounds and it was so interesting to hear the driver talk on the points of interest.

The mansion was quite an experience. In one way very much in a European style, and yet the American mods cons (20th century style) were much in evidence too. At every corner was a friendly, knowledgeable guide who could relate the history to you.

The gift shop is quirky and certainly worth a look. Managed to find a nice present there.

They now offer guided garden walks during the day, but they don't bother putting that info on the website. If you come in late in the day with a good understanding in how much time you need for the mansion and the garden, you will not have the time for the GUIDED tour, which is the most important thing in any museum IMHO. Also, they won't bother telling you about the guided tour; you have to read the board at the entrance.
And they make every single effort to confuse you with that board. It says something in the first line and “tour at the mansion at maybe 12.30, something, something, something else, and 3.30”. I got there after 3, so the only thing applicable was the one at 3.30. When you ask them about the tour, they put on a very disgusted look and tell you that’s a tour at the garden. And when you ask if you could join, they just tell you that it has started. Well, that doesn’t mean anything or imply you can’t join after the official starting time of the tour until you figure out you have to be on a SHUTTLE to have a garden WALK.
And if you use Google Maps for navigation, don’t click on the icon of the estate and hit start; or it will lead you to a backdoor that is locked, especially if you approach from the west of the museum. Instead, click on the icon of the hospital and follow the ground sign after entering the gate. Many other sites have the same issue with Google Maps, but they usually describe the issue and directions very clearly on their websites. (Yes, some of them don’t include this on the website just like Nemours, but many of those museums are staffed by just a few people and/or are open just 6 days a year or by appointment and/or don’t charge admission.) I’m very amazed by how much effort the staff and management at Nemours put in to make your trip a pleasant one.
The mansion is great, and the garden is great, too, but the staff made the experience not up to expectations at all.

Great history lesson, well worth a visit. The house and grounds are well maintained. Will need a good amount of time to see and experience the whole estate. Prepare for some walking, we were exhausted after 2 hours. The guided tour of the house is wonderful, the tour guides are terrific. The foundation that supports this property must have plenty of money

This 220+ acre estate of Alfred I. DuPont and his very large family is a piece of American history. The early DuPonts made a vast fortune making gunpowder during the war of 1812 and Civil War, and in the 1920s pivoted to chemicals (still a huge company today). Alfred I DuPont was forced (by his cousins) to leave the company - and went into banking and real estate, at one point owning 8% of Florida! The mansion is a stunning example of the best of everything that money could buy at the time. Knowledgeable guides (greeters") in each section supplied entertaining family history related to the home and the magnificent gardens. Gardens can be toured in a jitney, about 30 minutes' trip, with a driver/guide to explain. The estate was once 3000 acres; Alfred donated land and $ for a hospital to be built. Today the hospital endowment is over 1 Billion dollars. Definitely worth a visit.

Yet another excellent residence owned by a DuPont family member. It is best found by looking for the Nemours Children's Hospital, as they share the same tract of land. This is a very lavish house with beautiful grounds. A tram tour is available. Docents are available around the home to help you, but there is no formal tour. Very impressive.

This is a beautiful house where anyone feels like they can live unlike the huge cottages in Newport RI.
The volunteers know all the details which make the tour more interesting. Again after visiting Winterthur, The Nemours Mansion, and the Hagley Museum aforementioned one gets a real sense of how decent the Dupont's were in The Brandywine River Valley. Every local I talked to seems to like the family.

the mansion is well preserved and we got an outstanding tour from one of the docents. Gardens are very formal. They do an excellent job of limiting the traffic to the mansion so that you have plenty of time to tour and see what you want. Not crowded and leisurely,

How the rich people used to live…I suppose there are still plenty of wealthy people with big estates and lots of servants, but older mansions and grounds like the Nemours Estate are pretty amazing. The house is beautiful, and nearly all of it is open on the self-guided tour. There are docents in each room (of which there are many), and they all were friendly and very knowledgeable. So much beautiful artwork, antique (as in centuries old) furnishings; lots of family photos and interesting history. The grounds go on forever, it seems—acres of lawn, fountains, formal gardens, walkways, statuary. Be prepared to walk a lot. Just getting from the entrance gate to the mansion is a hike, but under a beautiful avenue of mature trees. (Warm weather note: We were given free bottles of chilled water at the entry. You’ll be happy to have it.)

For history, garden, & art lovers this is a must visit into one of the most important families in US history. The narrated bus tour & the many docents throughout the home brought the DuPont family to life. Photo opportunities galore, especially on a sunny day.

I visited on a Sunday. It was mostly empty. I'm confused as to how it wasn't busier. The gardens are well-kept. The house is gorgeous. The staff members in each room were amazingly friendly and knowledgeable; they seemed genuinely enthusiastic to be working there. I will be returning during the holidays to see the decorations.

We have toured many historical estates in several states around the country, and this is by far our favorite. The staff is the friendliest and most welcoming that we've encountered. Helpful and knowledgeable, especially Denise at the front desk! The drivers on the buses and the docents around the estate couldn't have been more kind and made our visit most enjoyable.

On most tours, you are kept behind ropes and made to "move-along". This house is exquisite, and yet you are encouraged to move among the rooms at your leisure. We took the 11 a.m tour and were fascinated by the stories and history of the Dupont Family. The gardens were beautiful and well maintained.

Thank you to the staff of Nemours....we will be back!!

We drove over from Philly for the day, to visit the Estate.

You start at the Visitor’s center, where you can get a little history, and watch a short film.

You need to take the shuttle bus from the VC, to the Mansion. You are free to tour the house as you see fit. There are a lot of volunteers around to answer any questions.

You can walk around the grounds, which are spectacular. Don’t miss the garage and the Rolls Royces.

When you are done, you can catch one of the shuttles back to the VC.

My wife and I were very fortunate to have an OUTSTANDING tour guide! She knew a lot about the Dupont family and the estate house. After the house tour, we also took the estate tour to enjoy the beautiful gardens.

Very knowledgeable docents, a highlights tour then you are free to roam around.

Cutting edge technology for its time, ask if you can take the Mechanical Tour. You will see how the house was built, the thought for comfort and safety of the family.

From the drive, the newest addition to the children's hospital is visible.

It's a must in Wilmington.

We did the tour as part of a AAA bus trip. Having done many estate tours, this was well organized with small groups and shuttle bus to take you from area to area. This was wonderful because it was a rainy day. The docents were very informed and delightful!

We came to Nemours with our family when we evacuated from Hurricane Flo. The staff was absolutely amazing, the house was magnificent!! This is a must see if in the area!!

This DuPont mansion is situated on a hill overlooking the lawn and gardens. It is always interesting to tour old mansions and this did not disappoint. A section of the lawn with the fountains was roped off due to ongoing repairs so we were unable to see this area up close. This was included in the Wilmington Passport so it was well worth the visit.

On a brilliantly sunny spring day, Nemours was set amid beautiful gardens. The building is gorgeous and the docents were knowledgeable but unobtrusive. Beautiful architecture and design.

Here is my BEST advice:

1. You will need at least 3 hours to leisurely do this tour, if you don't have that time, DON"T GO. The price of admission is a bit prohibitive to return if you miss some aspect of the tour.
2. Watch the "mini-documentary" in the visitor's center, THEN do the GARDEN SHUTTLE TOUR FIRST. They run on the hour, every hour EXCEPT THE LAST HOUR, so the LAST SHUTTLE IS AT 4:00pm. This way, you can still tour the house until 5:00pm to maximize the mansion's hours. (WARNING: the garden shuttle bus is an open, covered bus, so no air-conditioning. Try to avoid it during the hottest part of the day or during a heat wave, unless you like sitting in someone else's sweat.)
3. The mansion has been restored/maintained to preserve historical accurateness. The docents are excellent and very knowledgeable. The tour is only open on the 2 first floors, the other floors are closed to the public.
4. The mansion is ADA friendly, with access to an elevator and restroom, however I don't know if the same pertains to strollers. Strollers would be challenging since you'd need to fold them up to board the shuttle to and from the mansion to the visitor center.
5. The gardens are not historically accurate to du Pont's time, there seems to be constant building and expanding of the gardens, just FYI.
6. If you've toured the mansions of Newport, RI you may be a bit disappointed by the mansion. It is definitely smaller in scale and not as grandiose, however the land and gardens are quite extensive which MAY make up for the difference.

The reason for my poor rating? The STAFF and bus drivers are incredibly rude, surprisingly so! I made a non-judgemental, constructive remark about displaying the hours of garden shuttle tour more prominently to the supervisor at the VC and she simply directed me to the 1/4 sheet of paper that was printed out with the day's events as opposed to placing it in the clear acrylic stand. Well her print-outs weren't working as there was a garden staffer visiting on his day off and even he missed the garden shuttle bus!

We also had a very unpleasant experience with the bus driver berating my husband to remove our vehicle from the parking lot right at 5pm, so we relocated the car to outside the gate, but 20 minutes later the gates were still open with an employee car within. It simply seems as though the employees aren't happy to be working on such a nice historical site and are not open to improving visitors' experiences.

The docents were great and even offered a scavenger hunt to children. I would not recommend this place for toddlers, too many fragile things to break and touch.

Very enjoyable visit. There is so much to see. Beautiful gardens to stroll through. Full of history. Worth visiting

Please be aware that the GPS for the Nemours Estate had us trying to enter via a closed gate. Once we were actually on the grounds of the Estate, which is tied to the Children's Hospital, the signs were misleading.

Now, once my wife and I got to the grounds, we were pretty happy. We arrived in time for one of the tram tours, so the guide could explain some of the features of the Estate.

After the tram tour, we visited the mansion. The docents did a great job explaining about the features of the home, and the furnishings reminded me of some Gilded Age homes (like the Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park).

We did have a little time to walk the grounds by the reflecting pool. This area reminded me of Schoenbrun Palace in Vienna.

We only had about 2.5 hours to tour. I would suggest allowing most of one day to properly see everything.

This was a beautiful treat. Never heard of it but saw the street placard and decided to visit. We only had an hour before closing but loved everything and will return for a longer visit.

A magnificent estate and beautiful gardens, we also especially enjoyed the history and life story of the man who built it to woo his wife! Totally worth a visit!

This place is wonderful! When you walk the grounds you feel like your are in Europe. There is so much history here. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. What I liked about this place is that you can walk around at your own pace if you wish. The only two negative things I will say are 1) the garden tour bus was way too hot. It was obvious the AC was not working right. It was 90 something degrees outside so it was hard to tolerate. 2) there is no cafe or snack vending machines so eat before you go. Otherwise this is definitely a magical place !

My husband & I had a terrific tour last month. The info. on Alfred DuPont provided in the visitors' ctr. is fascinating-leave apps. 45 mins. for that. If it wasn't for the docent I would have breezed through the basement and not learned all the interesting facts of the plumbing, heating, cooling systems, some of which DuPont engineered himself. Although the house is grand it is on a smaller, more livable scale than many mansions. The gardens are beautiful. We enjoyed the short tour provided by the gardener. Be sure to visit the garage (the outside is so pretty) if you like antique cars.

This was such a great surprise. We were looking for something to do unique to Wilmington so we decided to visit Nemours Estate. I wish the weather was cooler (such a hot day) so we could have explored the grounds more. I also wished we would have planned for more time there. It was beautiful. It was so unique and has a such an interesting story. The self guided tour offered a kind and friendly volunteer and nearly every stop. Glad we made this part of our trip.

My daughter and I have visited a number of DuPont houses and this is our favorite. It is smaller and much more of a family home. The gardens are beautiful and also more intimate. At the entrance before the shuttle to the house is a very informative timeline of the DuPont family and how all the different estates were created and evolved. Well worth an afternoon visit.

This is the kind of thing that I love! A beautiful, immaculately maintained mansion featuring beautiful art, furnishings and with a rich history, associated with the Du Pont family.

Helpful docents throughout the mansion to answer questions and point out details that otherwise might be overlooked. Do not miss the fascinating mechanical rooms on the lower level along with the gaming rooms. Although the mansion was lovely decorated for the holidays, winter is not the season to appreciate the gardens. The shuttle drives you into the property where you are free to wander at your own pace. Bring a bottle of water with you as there are no facilities for purchasing food or drinks inside the estate, not even a water fountain. The cars in the chauffer's garage are very nice. The garage living spaces on the first floor have been converted into the gift shop.
The greenhouses were a huge disappointment! Totally destroyed and ruined! On an otherwise beautifully maintained estate, the large greenhouses were broken and decaying. There is a great opportunity here to restore the greenhouses and convert them into a lovely museum cafe or teahouse featuring fresh soups and salads highlighting local farm to table partnerships or use some of the restored greenhouses to grow fresh salad greens and vegetables. Even on a winter weekend, we would have stayed longer if there were refreshments available.

If you’ve never been and are in the area, this is a must see attraction. It’s a perfect opportunity to step into the Gilded Age time period and experience what life was like for the local Gentry. The house and gardens are exquisite. It is every bit on par with the Biltmore, but in a smaller scale. A really enjoyable visit and well worth the time and expense.

This mansion/museum is so well restored and run by the foundation. All the furnishings are left from the owners, the Alfred duPont family. You really get a sense of how the wealthy lived. The estate is well run and organized, very visitor friendly. There is no eating facility to purchase or have a picnic on the grounds.

I went here in 2020 for the first time and spent a good chunk of a day exploring the gardens, which are beautiful. The house was understandably closed at the time, so when I was passing through Delaware in April 2022 I decided to stop and see the house. All three levels were open and it's an incredible survival from the Gilded Age. Beautifully decorated rooms and also the recreational (bowling alley!) and working rooms of the house are all open.

If you have not been I would definitely devote the better part of a day to visiting if you wish to see both house and gardens. I don't believe there's a cafe on site but it's a great spot to bring a picnic lunch.

To see an historic mansion for the senior price of $16 is a bargain. All of the individuals working at the mansion were very pleasant and eager to tell their part of the duPont story. The tour gave me a greater appreciation for Alfred duPont and his family. Even though he had tremendous wealth, he was really a humble person and the family wanted the estate to be open to all.

This mansion that belonged to the DuPont family was absolutely incredible. Each room of the mansion had a docent to help give information specific to the room and to answer any general questions. This house had every bell and whistle and was gorgeous inside and out. The grounds were impeccably maintained and were so beautiful. If we had time we would have hopped on the little tram that took you around the Estate with some more information on the rest of it. Highly recommend that.

We visited Nemours today and were pleasantly surprised that it was such a beautiful estate. We first watched the historical film in the visitor center to get grounded on the history of the property and its owners. We then hopped on the shuttle to the mansion. The gardens were beautiful and well maintained. We toured the 1st & 2nd floors of the mansion. We were greeted along the way and were provided with information about each room. We then took a quick walk to the Chauffeur’s Garage to see the Rolls Royce’s and Cadillacs. After which we took the 25-minute guided van tour along the perimeter of the property. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon and highly recommend visiting!

Even though the weather was chilly and rainy for our visit we had a delightful time. The mansion itself is spectacular with knowledgeable docents in each room. Everything in the gardens wasn’t quite in bloom, but they were still amazing, I highly recommend taking the Garden Shuttle tour as it is a great 20-minute overview of all the things that you will want to walk to and check out in detail. The entire experience is well worth the cost!

Upon entering the visitors center we received a very hospitable greeting...
And detailed info on the tours.
Enjoyed a short video before getting on shuttle to the ‘home’.
The docents were all very well informed and prepared to answer any questions. We weren’t prepared to spend all day, so stayed with the spectacular mansion property. Quick view of the immense gardens as we rode back to the visitors center. Next time we will allow more time for vehicles in garages, gardens & exhibits in center.
Gorgeous & historic!
I would highly recommend!

My wife and I visited Nemours Estate in early September. We absolutely loved our time touring the home and estate! My wife is in a power wheelchair, and the staff, home and estate were very inviting - thank you! The staff assisted my wife with a small, portable ramp in/out of the home as well as in in/out of the Chauffeur's Garage. While inside the home, the hallways and rooms were very spacious for my wife, and we both loved the architecture, history and artwork throughout the home. To access multiple levels of the home, there was an elevator and also a lift which were fantastic. My only disappointment was that the bottom floor was closed for some reason - I assume that is where the bowling alley is located which I was hoping to see. My wife and I were able to explore a large majority of the grounds comfortably and with accessibility. Nemours Estate was definitely a major highlight of our 10-day vacation on the East Coast!

The house resembles a grand Newport, RI “cottage”. The long allee leading from the house at one end to a folly at the other end is supremely European in “flavor”. So too are the planted parterre gardens to the side and rear of the house. Beautiful gates once belonging to Catherine the Great, gilded detail below windows, delightful summer awnings over the large windows all bring back the Gilded Age with a bang. Not to be missed on the great DuPont garden tour triumvirate: Longwood, Winterthur, Nemours

See how the DuPont family lived and the luxuries they had. A very nice place to see, the staff are great taking time to explain and answer questions. If you get a chance see it during mid to late spring or early summer whne things are in bloom. The gardens are spectacular. The house itself is amazing with it's lived in feel. You can almost feel what it was like to have servants making your meals and manicuring your gardens for you. Rich in the history of the family that almost single handedly built Delaware.

This is one of several DuPont residences in the area. Its gardens, fountains, sculpture and mansion reminded me of a mini Versailles. It is a spectacular estate and after conversations with the informative, friendly guides inside the mansion, we took advantage of the free shuttle bus tour to hear stories and see the rest of the grounds. We learned about the hidden ceramic figures, the history of its construction and so forth and our great guide even gave us a ride towards the parking lot at the end of the tour. Definitely a must-see!

There is nothing negative about this experience. The estate is breathtaking. I appreciated that the house is self-guided but has an expert in every room for questions/information. This was much for enjoyable than a guided tour. We were there on the day after Thanksgiving and it was all decorated for the holidays and was stunning. I'd love to go back in the summer. I also appreciate the staff being mindful of accessibility. Once they noticed I was with my older parents, many guided us to chairs when they can sit and how to use the elevator. At the end of the tour in the chauffeur house, we requested a golf cart to take us back to the entrance. This was a great addition to our experience!

Ostentatious French-style mansion, with incredible chandeliers, furnishings, cars, bowling alley, bedrooms, wall murals--all really over the top. It's an interesting glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous from the early 20th century. The gardens were not well maintained--lots of weeds and bare spots. The main fountain was beautiful. Not sure it's worth the price of admission, and a marginally unfriendly staff.

They were very accommodating of my daughter in a wheelchair. I enjoyed the self-guided tour. There are lots of docents with tidbits of information and were knowledgeable and helpful. The house and gardens are gorgeous. We didn’t get much of a chance to see the gardens and it started to pour down rain.

The movie in the visitor center is very informative. Highly recommend.

We were interested in the man responsible for the hospital where my daughter got great care. And this was a good place to learn about him.

What an amazing way to spend an afternoon! Beautiful mansion with plenty of knowledgeable docents. Make sure to take the shuttle bus tour of the gardens - driver is a wealth of information.

This estate is even nicer and more interesting than Winterthur, which gets more attention. The grounds are spectacular and remind me of Versailles. The inside has a self-guided tour and blew me away. Be sure to visit the basement, a lot of interesting and unusual things are there (the office, pool room, mechanical room, etc.)

Beautiful gardens and house. Largest formal French gardens in North America. Salvia maze, numerous pools and fountains.

This is a beautiful way to spend a quiet afternoon. I enjoyed walking the mansion with a self tour and the guided garden tour. I would definitely go again.

The tours of the house at Nemours was informative and fascinating. The house contains many amenities (such as a back up generator) that were new innovations in the early 20th century. The grounds are amazing as well with a French inspired formal garden. It is interesting how different this Du Post estate is from Logwood and Winterthur. Well worth a day visit. They are very strict about closing time so be sure to allow enough time for a leisurely visit.

Parking is free. At the visitor center, watch the movie first about the history of the Dupont family. Alfred Dupont was an amazing inventor who made Nemours self sufficient and beautiful. Inside the mansion, take the tour and then explore on your own. There are many volunteers throughout the mansion who are knowledgeable about the history and artifacts. Next see the chauffeurs garage with all of the beautiful antique vehicles. Take the free shuttle tour that circles the estate. Next, walk on your own through the beautiful gardens. Really enjoyed this beautiful place.

Another grand DuPont home. Everyone was very welcoming. Like all of Delaware’s historical properties the docents are very knowledgeable, friendly and nice. This is a grand home but it feels like a home not a museum. The gardens are spacious and well maintained. The garage docent has lots of interesting info and was very knowledgeable about the hospital adjacent to the property. We look forward to visiting during the Christmas holiday

The Nemours estate is a must see when visiting the Brandywine Valley/Wilmongton area. It was the best thing we did in our (admittedly short) stay in the area. The French Gardens are not only the largest of their kind in the US, they are some of the most beautiful we've seen and on par with many of the gardens of the castles in the Loire region. The buildings are interesting and very attractively furnished (including the garage with antique cars!). Only the first floor is currently open. It was relatively quiet when we visited in October, so that we had time to stroll around the grounds and take many pictures. A visit can easily take 1-3 hours. Highly recommended!

As a family we were driving through Delaware and wanted an interesting stop. Saw Nemours Estate on trip advisor and thought we’d give it a shot. As a family who enjoys historical landmarks and random information Nemours is perfect. In each room there is a placard with information...then there are separate ones with ‘Fun Facts’. We enjoyed the ‘Fun facts’ and are now ready for a game of Trivial Pursuit.

Don’t forget to travel out and see the cars in the garage when visiting.

I was looking for something to do while in the Wilmington area and this place came highly recommended. I only wish I'd had more time to spend there. To get to the mansion, you must take a shuttle, so you're a little at the mercy of the drivers -- plan to spend at least 2-3 hours here. The tour starts off with an informative movie and I wish I'd had more time to see the DuPont family timeline imposed over US history in Visitor Center. The house is amazing and all the docents stationed in the house were super friendly and knowledgeable, even if I didn't have time for the guided tour. It's amazing to me that real people actually lived here. The place is set up as it was in the 20s, so it has a total "Great Gatsby" vibe. The gardens are also stunning.

We have lived in the area for many years and have not visited the mansion. I can tell you that it was far beyond any experience at a historical location we have ever had. The house, grounds and even the garage were jaw droppingly beautiful. Everywhere one looked there was beauty. The docents really seemed to enjoy sharing their knowledge with you. What a fantastic trip back through history.

You arrive at the "visitor's center" which is where you buy your ticket. While there you can view a short film and browse through a small exhibit on the history of the house. You then can board a round-robin shuttle that will take you to the house. Once you arrive you are greeted by one of many docents who are available throughout the house to answer questions (there are information boards in each room of the house). This is a self-guided tour, though there is one area in the basement that I will call the "mechanical/machine" rooms, based upon the description, which require a tour guide (available at certain times). I was not able to see this part, so if you want to, you will want to plan accordingly. The reason I ranked this a "4" was due to one of the docents being rude, but the others were wonderful. The house and gardens are beautiful, though that was the original owners intent. It is like stepping back into time. You will need at least 4 hours to see the house and the grounds (depending upon how fast you walk). When we were there, there was construction being done on the outside fountain area and no clear signs on how to get around it, so we ended up taking a route through the trees.

A beautiful mansion, although since Covid, only the ground floor of the main building is open. In addition, the garage, with 5 amazing cars (Rolls Royce, and similar), plus beautiful grounds. Clearly, the optimal time of year to go is spring or fall, when you can really enjoy the gardens and trails, but even in January it was quite beautiful, and very worth the $12 entrance fee.

A special shout-out to the staff; every single member of the staff gave a very friendly "hello", a wave, and a warm smile.
I wish they could teach that to *my* staff.

Stopped by here during a baseball tourney to look around. The grounds are just beautiful, reminiscent of the Loire Valley chateaux or even a mini Versailles. Even better, the DuPont's cars in the garage. The interior of the mansion is virtually intact from back when it was occupied. Staff inside were super friendly, knowledgeable. Your kids may not like the historic aspect but the grounds are spectacular. Don't miss it.

The Brandywine Valley has been attracting visitors world-wide for decades, and there is no better one-two punch than the Nemours Estate and Longwood Gardens.

Nemours includes a beautiful 103 room mansion as well as French Gardens of a quality that are rarely if ever seen outside of the Loire Valley. The gardens are gorgeously manicured and are reminiscent of Versailles, from what I am told of Versailles by my Bourgeois wife. All in all this place is a must see and a true game changer.

LOVED visiting Nemours Estate! One of the few mansions where you can literally roam through the whole house and get a good feel of what life was like living there. Every staff person was super friendly and informative. The house is stunning and the grounds are so beautiful. Highly recommend a visit here (even recommend skipping Winterthur to visit this instead if you are short on time).

I visited the Estate with my family which included two kids under 10. The mansion was beautiful and had a couple of "Fun Facts" cards that my kids found interesting. Similarly, the grounds outside had dozens of fun fact cards and scavenger clues around that my son really enjoyed.

The outside gardens were immaculate and a sight to behold. The handy map identified all the highlights, which were many. We were told the bus tour was very good, but unfortunately we missed it. I would advise getting to the bus stop at least 15 minutes before it's scheduled to run.

What set this place apart in my mind, was how incredibly friendly the staff was. From the guides in the mansion to the security staff outside, everybody was incredibly eager to make sure you were having an enjoyable experience.

We were all definitely glad we stopped by, and would highly recommend it if you and your family is in the area.

Had a half day visit at the estate. Reservation had to be made in advance on the phone, entrance fee was half off. Digital map was provided, only other 4 people were on the entire property at the same time. Walking around was not just very safe but also very special, as we had the feeling to have the entire estate for ourselves. Bathrooms were very clean, hand sanitizer available. We very mich enjoyed the visit!

very beautiful home & gardens. One of the best I've visited. If you can't walk to gardens the shuttle does a loop around.