Read House & Gardens
A grand Federal mansion and free riverfront gardens — the 'go inside' stop in Historic New Castle.
42 The Strand, New Castle, DE 19720
Hours
11 AM – 4 PM
Show the week Hide the week
| Sat | 11 AM – 4 PM |
|---|---|
| Sun | 11 AM – 4 PM |
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | Closed |
| Thu | 11 AM – 4 PM |
| Fri | 11 AM – 4 PM |
Last checked 2026-08-24
- Cost
- $10 (house tour) adult · $5 (ages 6–17) child
- Best for
- All ages (house tour best 6+)
- Indoor / outdoor
- Indoor & outdoor
- Typical visit
- 1–1.5 hours (gardens plus a house tour)
A historic house and garden in New Castle; a look-don't-touch visit, best kept short with little ones.
The Quick Version
- • A grand Federal-era mansion (built 1797–1804) on the New Castle waterfront, with formal gardens behind it — run by the Delaware Historical Society.
- • The gardens are free and open daily, dawn to dusk; the house is by guided tour (Thursday–Sunday) — adults $10, ages 6–17 $5, under 6 free.
- • The natural 'go inside' complement to the Historic New Castle district — pair it with the Court House and Battery Park.
- • The house tour suits ages 6+; the gardens and riverfront are easy for any age.
Best Ages
All ages (house tour best 6+)
Plan For
1–1.5 hours (gardens plus a house tour)
Adults
$10 (house tour)
Kids
$5 (ages 6–17)
What to Expect
The Read House is the grandest house in Historic New Castle — a Federal mansion built between 1797 and 1804 for George Read II (son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence), now a National Historic Landmark run by the Delaware Historical Society.
You experience it two ways: the formal gardens behind it are free and open daily, dawn to dusk — an easy, pretty riverfront stroll for any age — while the house itself is by guided tour (Thursday–Sunday, tours on the hour, last at 3 PM). For families, the gardens and the riverfront setting work for all ages, and the house tour lands best with kids 6 and up who can handle a walk-through-and-listen.
Admission is $10 adults, $5 for ages 6–17, free under 6, and the gardens cost nothing. Set expectations: it's a historic-house experience (look, don't touch), so pair the tour with the free gardens and the rest of Historic New Castle — the Court House and Battery Park are blocks away. December brings Victorian holiday programming.
Who It's Best For
The free gardens and the riverfront setting work for any age. The guided house tour lands best with kids 6 and up who can handle a walk-through-and-listen; wiggly toddlers do better in the gardens.
Highlights
The free riverfront gardens
All agesFormal gardens open daily, dawn to dusk, at no charge — a lovely stop even without the house tour.
The Federal mansion tour
Ages 6+A guided walk through a grand 1804 house and its history — for kids who can settle into a tour.
Historic New Castle on foot
All agesPair it with the Court House Museum and Battery Park, all within a few blocks.
Victorian holiday programming
All agesDecember's 'Christmas with the Coupers' decks the house in period style.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • The house tour with a wiggly toddler — do the free gardens instead, and save the tour for older kids.
- • Monday–Wednesday for the house — it's tour-only Thursday–Sunday.
- • Driving spot-to-spot — park once and walk the district.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
$10 (house tour)
Kids
$5 (ages 6–17)
Under
5 & under free
Adults $10; military/senior/student $8; ages 6–17 $5; 5 & under free; members free; exhibit-only $4. The gardens are free and open daily — only the house tour is ticketed.
Membership tip: A Delaware Historical Society membership covers admission here and at the downtown Delaware History Museum.
Getting There
Parking
Street parking in Historic New Castle.
Park once in Historic New Castle and walk — the Read House, Court House, and Battery Park are all within a few blocks.
Entrance
42 The Strand, on the riverfront; check in for the house tour.
Parent Logistics
The gardens are stroller-friendly; the historic house has stairs, so the tour is less stroller-convenient.
Restrooms at the house.
Not confirmed — plan ahead.
The gardens and riverfront have shade and benches.
Food & Snacks
No food on-site. No food on site; Second Street and Delaware Street in Historic New Castle have cafes a short walk away.
Snack strategy: Eat in Historic New Castle — it's a walkable district.
Pro Tips
- ✓ The gardens are free and open daily — a lovely stop on their own.
- ✓ Park once in Historic New Castle and walk to the Court House and Battery Park.
- ✓ A Delaware Historical Society membership covers this plus the downtown Delaware History Museum.
- ✓ December's 'Christmas with the Coupers' is the house at its most festive.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Thursday–Sunday for house tours (last tour 3 PM); the gardens any day. December brings Victorian holiday programming ('Christmas with the Coupers'), and Separation Day livens up the town in June.
Seasonal Notes
House tours Thursday–Sunday 11 AM–4 PM (tours on the hour, last at 3 PM); Monday–Wednesday closed. Gardens free, daily dawn–dusk, year-round. Victorian holiday programming in December.
Rainy Day?
The house tour is indoors (a fine rainy-day option Thursday–Sunday); the gardens are the fair-weather half.
While You're in the Area
The rest of Historic New Castle — the Court House Museum, Battery Park, and the Green; Second Street cafes.
Upcoming Events
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