Delaware Art Museum – History & Overview
The Delaware Art Museum, located at 2301 Kentmere Parkway in Wilmington, Delaware, was founded in 1912 by the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts. It was established shortly after his death in 1911 to honor the legacy of renowned American illustrator Howard Pyle. The museum’s initial collection included more than 100 of Pyle’s paintings, drawings, and prints, many of which were donated by his widow, Anne Poole Pyle.
The Delaware Art Museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday
In 1935, the museum was significantly enriched by a major gift from the family of Samuel Bancroft Jr., a prominent textile mill owner and art collector. This donation included Bancroft’s world-class collection of British Pre-Raphaelite art and manuscripts and 11 acres of land. This generous contribution enabled the construction of a new museum building, which opened in June 1938 as part of the Delaware Art Center.
By 1943, the museum expanded its educational outreach by launching studio art programs in partnership with the Wilmington Academy of Art. In 1956, the H. Fletcher Brown Education Wing was added to provide more classroom space and accommodate growing enrollment in the museum’s programs.
The name was officially changed to the Delaware Art Museum in 1972, marking its evolution from a local arts society to a prominent cultural institution. A major renovation and expansion project was completed in 2005, designed by Ann Beha Architects. This project added new galleries, enhanced visitor spaces, and introduced features like the Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives and the Copeland Sculpture Garden.
Collections
The museum houses over 12,000 works of art, focusing on several key areas:
- American Art (1757–1960): Works by major American artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth, and Paul Cadmus.
- American Illustration: Extensive holdings of Howard Pyle’s work and his students like N.C. Wyeth, Frank Schoonover, and Stanley Arthurs.
- British Pre-Raphaelite Art: The Samuel and Mary R. Bancroft Collection includes works by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and William Holman Hunt. It is one of the largest collections of pre-Raphaelite art outside the UK.
- Contemporary Art: Post-1960s work by Edna Andrade, Robert Indiana, Jim Dine, and Anne Truitt.
- Copeland Sculpture Garden: A 9-acre outdoor space with over 20 sculptures from nationally recognized artists, open to the public year-round.
Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives
This non-circulating research library supports the museum’s curatorial and educational work. It includes over 40,000 volumes and 2,000 linear feet of archival material, primarily focused on American illustration, the Pre-Raphaelites, and American art history.
Visitor Information
Location: 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806
Hours and Admission:
- Wednesday–Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday evenings (April through December): Open until 8:00 PM
- Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Adults: $18
- Seniors (65+): $16
- Students (with ID): $7
- Youth (7–18): $6
- Children (6 and under): Free
- Museum Members: Free
The Delaware Art Museum remains vital to Delaware’s cultural life, offering exhibitions, community events, educational programming, and a strong commitment to historical and contemporary art. It is particularly well-known for its dedication to American illustration and British Pre-Raphaelite works and its thoughtful integration of indoor and outdoor art experiences.