National Inventors’ Day has been observed annually on February 11 (Thomas Edison’s birthday) since 1983. It was proclaimed so by President Ronald Regan as a way to honor brilliant-minded inventors and their remarkable, innovative contributions to society throughout history.
There are many different museums devoted to inventions and technology throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, many of which are celebrating the occasion with specials and scheduled events running throughout the week. One such example is the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware, which is featuring its Kid Inventors’ Weekend between February 14 and 16.
While the history of invention is vital to the events and activities that will be unfolding here, the very site on which the museum sits boasts a most alluring heritage worth discovering more about. From its family connections to the eventual decision to designate it as the state’s first affiliate of the Smithsonian, this Flashback Friday Feature offers an insightful look into the history and development of the Hagley Museum and Library.
Ownership and the Hagley Name
Historical land records for the Hagley property date back to at least 1783. The first confirmed ownership on file was that of Rumford Dawes, a Quaker from Philadelphia. It was likely Dawes himself who christened the Brandywine premises “Hagley” (sometime before 1797), inspired by the Hagley Hall of English 18th-century acclaim, made famous by James Thomson’s poem The Seasons.
The Hagley’s historic association as having been the first home of the notable du Pont family began in 1801. That was the year when French immigrant Éleuthère Irénée du Pont purchased the land for $6,700—the modern-day equivalent of just under $130,000.
The house was done up in traditional, stately Georgian-style. In addition to the house, the premises comprised lavish gardens. This location was chosen by du Pont specifically
for its situation along the Brandywine Creek and the surrounding trees. It was the ideal and idyllic setting for establishing his black powder mills. The site would eventually garner a claim to fame as the largest black powder operation in the world. As for the family residence, it would go on to be home to five generations of du Ponts.
Plans for a Museum
The once world-famous mills were closed in 1921, and the property was parceled and sold. Yet just 31 years later, on the anniversary of the DuPont Company’s 150th anniversary, plans were put in place to repurpose the site as a museum.
At that time, 1952, the Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation, a nonprofit, educational corporation, received its charter from the State of Delaware. Five short years later, the Hagley Museum opened its doors to the public. The dedication took place in May of 1957, first with the opening of the Henry Clay Mill building.
Mergers and Developments
A few years later, the coexisting Longwood Library, which was founded in 1954 by Pierre S. du Pont, officially merged with Hagley Museum. It was established at the site of the original DuPont Company’s powder works at Hagley. Originally named “Eleutherian Mills Historical Library,” the official dedication was on October 7, 1961. It was later renamed “the Hagley Library” in 1984.
The Museum Today
Many developments have continued to shape the site since the museum’s official founding. It was even designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.
Today, Hagley boasts several unique exhibits, all of which showcase the multifaceted timeline events chronicling early industrial technology and American history. There is a particular emphasis aligned with the du Pont family legacy and their well-established DuPont company. Some displays even include gunpowder and inventive innovations that unfolded here. Documentation also includes patent models.
The overall site is renowned for both indoor and outdoor exhibitions of many kinds, as well as restored mills, the recreation of a workers’ community, and the preserved original home of the du Pont family with its maintained gardens. Visitors may even elect to go for a narrated bus tour ride through the Powder Yard Trail. It is the only way to get to the restored home.
Their newest exhibit, Nation of Inventors, is the focus of the upcoming National Inventors’ Week happenings unfolding here in the coming days. With this attraction, you get to experience the unique stories of American innovation in general, as well as those that occurred here locally. Demonstrations include self-guided tours of the different buildings, gardens, and even the home itself.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Hagley Museum and Library has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1972. Also, as previously mentioned, they were designated Delaware’s first Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution as of June 2, 2014.
There is so much to see, do, and experience at historic Hagley Museum and Library. Learn more about visiting on the website at www.hagley.org.