For those with a curious mind, Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley offer an entertaining, fun and educational look behind the scenes of a historic gunpowder manufacturer, an extra tasty snack food factory, and the inner workings of the largest fountain garden in the U. S.
Start your discovery with a visit to Hagley Museum, home to the original 1802 DuPont Company gun powder manufacturing site. During your visit you will get a glimpse into 19th-century American life and work at Hagely including the powder mills and live powder demonstration as well as live machinery demonstrations.
Just a short drive outside of Wilmington you’ll find the family-owned and operated Herr’s Snack Factory. Since 1946 the Herr’s family has been supplying potato chips and dozens of other snack food favorites and on this factory tour you will see snacks made from start to finish and maybe even get a hot, fresh sample right off the production line.
Finally, Longwood Gardens, one of the world’s premier horticultural showcases, is also home to the largest fountain garden in the U.S. During your visit you’ll experience the Main Fountain Garden from the inside out. Start your tour with private box seating for a dynamic Daytime Fountain Performance, and then learn more about this one-of-a-kind space on a guided 60-minute behind-the-scenes tour. Traveling from above ground to the vast tunnel system hidden below, you’ll learn that beauty runs deep in this immersive entertaining experience.
