FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wilmington, Delaware (May 30, 2019) – All season long, visitors to Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley can discover why the Mid-Atlantic destination is the perfect summer getaway. The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport program returns this year with great savings and a simple, inspiring way to plan your trip. Available May 25 through September 2, the Passport offers visitors one-time access to each of 12 of the region’s participating historic, cultural and garden attractions.

But fun in this region isn’t limited to daytime hours. Pair your Passport experiences with some of the area’s not-to-miss events, such as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast; Ladybug Music Festival, America’s biggest celebration of women in music; and August Quarterly Festival, the oldest African-American religious festival in the nation.

Mix any of the 12 Passport attractions listed here with the amazing festivals, food, and entertainment from the Greater Wilmington area to create your own custom getaway weekend. 

  • Brandywine River Museum of Art – Renowned for its holdings of the Wyeth family of artists, the museum features galleries dedicated to the work of N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. A new exhibition opening on June 22, N.C. Wyeth: New Perspectives, will be the first to examine in depth the entirety of Wyeth’s work by showcasing approximately 70 paintings and drawings selected from major museums and private collections.
     
  • Delaware Art Museum – Best known for its pre-Raphaelite collection, the largest collection outside of the British Isles, this museum will present Rational Undercurrents: Contemporary Art of the Caribbean Archipelago from June 22 through September 8. This exhibition celebrates 21st-century art by artists with roots in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados and St. Vincent. Acknowledging the great diversity represented by these various countries, the exhibition explores thematic continuities found among the region.
     
  • The Delaware Contemporary – This non-collecting museum allows for a wide variety of exhibitions from artists of local, national and international recognition. Nude Descending/Ascending, Trash Talk: History in Assemblage, Postscript: Notions on Contemporary Craft, The Nothing Series and Pooka Up Close, and Amphibian Relationships are just a handful of exhibitions that will debut this summer. Be sure to stick around for the free evening opening receptions for all these exhibits on June 7, during Art Loop’s monthly event, and meet featured artists while enjoying refreshments with other art lovers.
     
  • Delaware History Museum – The Delaware Historical Society presents permanent and rotating exhibitions on historical topics at the Delaware History Museum, Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, and Old Town Hall and in its Willingtown Square Gallery on its Wilmington campus. Sharing the museum's theme, the Journey to Freedom exhibition presents compelling perspectives of African Americans’ struggles for human rights, freedom and dignity in Delaware and the nation.
     
  • Delaware Museum of Natural History – Explore nature and science through discovering far-away jungles and seas as well as the Delmarva habitats found near the museum’s own backyard. Opening on June 22, the fun-filled, family-friendly traveling exhibit Wicked Plants: The Exhibit gives visitors a safe, hands-on experience with some of the world’s most diabolical botanicals. Two- and three-dimensional interactives fill a Victorian-era ramshackle home, where visitors travel from room to room and learn about various poisonous plants that may be lurking in their homes and backyards.
     
  • Hagley Museum and Library – The former industrial site of the original black powder works of the DuPont Company is the home to 5,000 U.S. patent models, the largest private collection in the world. During this summer’s “Hike & Bike & Brews” series, visitors can stroll, jog or hike through the areas of Hagley’s property normally closed to foot traffic.
     
  • Longwood Gardens – Explore one of the great gardens of the world, featuring 1,100 acres of meadows, gardens, and woodlands including a 4-acre Conservatory. With dazzling horticulture displays, majestic fountains and inspiring performances, visitors take great delight in experiencing the world of Longwood Gardens. Now through August 31, Illuminated Fountain Performances are choreographed to various genres of music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.
     
  • Mt. Cuba Center – An inspiring place for gardeners to learn about what will work best in their own gardens, Mt. Cuba is home to living collections of plants native to the Eastern temperate forests of the United States.
     
  • Nemours Estate – DuPont is a name that you hear a lot along the Brandywine Treasure Trail. The 300-acre estate is the former home of Alfred duPont and is considered the largest and finest example of a formal French garden in North America. Along with the French garden, visitors can also admire fountains, artwork and gilded sculptures on the grounds, and they can explore the Chauffer’s Garage, which houses a collection of vintage automobiles used on the estate.
     
  • Read House & Gardens – This 22-room federal mansion, built by George Read II, is surrounded by one-and-a-half acres of formal gardens in New Castle. It was once the largest and most sophisticated residence in the state. Seasonal adornments make the house an enchanting place to visit throughout the year. Enjoy a full day touring the historic town, visiting museums and shops (Delaware is tax-free!), dining, and taking a stroll along the Delaware River at Battery Park.
     
  • Rockwood Park & Museum – Tour this marvelous Rural Gothic mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It provides a picture of yet another era of life in Delaware through the Bringhurst family’s 20th-century furnishings and photographs.
     
  • Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library – Founded by Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur’s preeminent collection of American antiques reflects both early America and the du Pont family’s life at this glorious estate. Winterthur is home to nearly 90,000 objects, only a fraction of which can be on display in the 175-room mansion at one time. Currently on display until January 5, 2020, Costuming THE CROWN, features 40 iconic costumes from the Netflix hit series “The Crown,” about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passports are $45 per person and $95 for a family, including two adults and three children under the age of 18. For more information about the Passport, visit VisitWilmingtonDE.com/Passport.

About Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley, Delaware

Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley is in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region and less than a two-hour drive from both New York City and Washington. Steeped in American history and the legacy of the famed du Pont family, Greater Wilmington is a destination marked by sharp contrasts – town and garden, past and present, historic and hip. From renowned gardens, world-class museums, colonial towns, outdoor adventure, festivals and an ever-growing craft beer and restaurant scene, each experience is more vibrant, more unique and more authentic than the last. Learn more at VisitWilmingtonDE.com. And to see the beauty of the Brandywine Valley now, watch this: https://youtu.be/KyPWLnciO0E

###

MEDIA CONTACT
Moneé Luckey
monee@mindybiancapr.com