Wilmington is the largest city in the US state of Delaware. The town’s history started in 1638, when Swedish settlers landed along today’s Christina River and established Fort Christina, the town of Christinahamn and the colony of New Sweden. In 1655, the area became Dutch and then English in 1664. In 1731, Thomas Willing designed the town with a town plan, and he called the town Willington, which was changed to Wilmington in 1739.

In the 19th century, the city grew to more than 75,000 inhabitants. Railways and streetcar lines were constructed, and industries and cultural institutions such as the Wilmington Opera were established. With its manufacturing capacity and the city’s shipyards, the world wars in the 20th century brought new growth to Wilmington, which by this time passed 100,000 inhabitants.

Today, Wilmington is a city with several sights and attractions in and around downtown, which is located between the Christina River and Brandywine Creek. In the downtown area you can see a mix of old buildings and modern skyscrapers, which together create interesting urban spaces. You can, for example, start a stroll in Rodney Square, which is Wilmington’s central square. It was created as a part of the City Beautiful movement in the late 19th century, which had a goal to beautify American cities.

You can notice many architectural styles around Rodney Square, where an equestrian statue of Caesar Rodney stood until its removal in 2020. The most prominent building in the square is the DuPont Building to the west along the main street, Market Street. Its wing facing Rodney Square was built in 1908 as one of Wilmington’s first high-rises and later extended toward Orange Street, where you can see the Nemours Building office building from the 1930s.

From the DuPont Building, you can take Market Street to the south, where the buildings become older and lower. Along the way, you pass an arch erected by the Delaware Historical Society that marks the Lower Market Street Historic District, which consists of a series of houses from the 18th century to the early 20th century. The brightly colored houses stand side by side in several different styles such as neoclassicism and federal style.

Along N Market Street, you pass the beautiful Grand Opera House from 1871, and you can also learn more about the neighborhood, Wilmington and the state at the Delaware History Museum. The Delaware Historical Society runs the museum, which is housed in a 1941 art deco building that formerly housed a Woolworth’s department store, and the neighboring Old Town Hall, which was built as the city’s town hall in 1798. Opposite the museum building, you can see several old houses from 1748-1801, which was moved here by the museum association in 1976.

If you want to enjoy some recreational time in Wilmington, a stroll along the Riverwalk is a good choice. The Riverwalk is a long walking trail that runs along the banks of the Christina River. You can start the trip south of Wilmington’s train station, which is south of downtown, and from the trail you get a good look at the city’s skyline. You can also leave the center to the Delaware Art Museum, which is an art museum with a focus on, among other things, American works from the 1800s and 1900s.