Delaware Art Museum
A walkable art museum with a stroller-friendly sculpture garden, Family 2nd Sundays, and one of NCC's best summer Thursday hangs.
2301 Kentmere Pkwy, Wilmington, DE 19806 · 10 min from downtown Wilmington
Hours
Closed today
Show the week Hide the week
| Fri | Closed |
|---|---|
| Sat | Closed |
| Sun | Closed |
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | Closed |
| Thu | 10 AM – 8 PM |
Last checked 2026-10-19
- Cost
- $18 adult · $6 (ages 7–18) child
- Best for
- All ages, sweet spot 3–10
- Indoor / outdoor
- Indoor
- Typical visit
- 1–1.5 hours indoors, plus 30–60 min in the sculpture garden
Free on-site parking behind the building and a free general-admission window on Thursday evenings in season; under-7s are always free.
The Quick Version
- • A mid-sized art museum in Wilmington's Kentmere Park neighborhood. Free parking, accessible galleries, and a sculpture garden you can wander without buying a ticket.
- • Admission: $18 adult / $6 youth 7–18 / under 7 free. Free Thursdays 4–8 PM, April–December.
- • Family programming is the reason to plan a visit: Family 2nd Sundays (monthly), Little Listeners storytime, and Sculpture Garden Happy Hours on summer Thursday evenings.
- • Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Sweet spot is Sunday morning, or Thursday evening when admission is free (April–December).
Best Ages
All ages, sweet spot 3–10
Plan For
1–1.5 hours indoors, plus 30–60 min in the sculpture garden
Adults
$18
Kids
$6 (ages 7–18)
What to Expect
The Delaware Art Museum sits on wooded grounds in the Kentmere Park neighborhood, just north of Trolley Square. It's the kind of mid-sized museum that's actually well-scaled for kids — big enough to feel like an outing, small enough that you won't burn out before lunch.
Inside, the permanent collection has two real strengths: a major British Pre-Raphaelite collection (with significant holdings of Rossetti) and a Howard Pyle illustration collection — Pyle was a Wilmington illustrator and storyteller whose pirate scenes and fantasy work read like picture-book pages on the wall. Kids tend to engage with the illustration galleries more readily than with the rest. Rotating contemporary exhibitions fill the rest of the space. The building has two elevators and wide gallery openings — easy to navigate with a stroller.
With young kids, head straight for Kids' Corner on the lower level — it's the museum's dedicated interactive family space, and it's open whenever the museum is. The behavioral expectations the museum sets for kids are simple and worth previewing in the parking lot: walking feet, careful hands, looking eyes.
The Copeland Sculpture Garden is the family secret. It's free to walk (no ticket required), stroller-friendly, and dotted with large works you can get close to — though touching the outdoor sculptures isn't allowed, so set that expectation before the loop. Plenty of grass for a blanket, benches, and shaded paths, and there's a labyrinth in the garden that's a real win for a kid who needs to burn energy. On a nice afternoon you can skip the galleries entirely and just do a loop with snacks.
The programming is where DAM earns a real spot in the NCC family rotation. Family 2nd Sundays (the second Sunday of each month) bring hands-on art-making at Creation Station, Studio Explorers sessions, and storytime in Kids' Corner, included with general admission (free for members). Little Listeners is a monthly interactive preschool storytime in Kids' Corner, on the third Wednesday morning. And then there's the Sculpture Garden Happy Hour — Thursday evenings May through summer, the grounds turn into an outdoor music venue with food trucks, lawn chairs, beer/wine, and a different live band each week. It reads on paper like an adults-only event, but in practice it's one of the most family-friendly Thursday hangs in NCC: kids run around the lawn, parents listen to the music, and the cash bar is just a cash bar. Many TW readers we know go specifically for the kids running on the grass.
The vibe is unhurried. Staff are kid-friendly, security doesn't hover, and nobody minds if a toddler narrates a Pre-Raphaelite from a stroller.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers: the Sculpture Garden is the win — stroller-friendly paths, sculptures at toddler eye-level, plenty of grass to crawl on. Little Listeners is the dedicated preschool storytime. Preschoolers: Family 2nd Sunday activities are designed for them. Elementary: peak window for the galleries — Pre-Raphaelite and Howard Pyle illustration collections have enough narrative pull to hold a 5–10 year old. Tweens and up: Thursday evenings during summer concerts are an easy hang.
Highlights
Copeland Sculpture Garden
All agesWooded grounds with large outdoor sculptures, paved paths, lawns, benches, and a labyrinth kids can walk. Free to enter — no ticket needed. Stroller-friendly. The single best family asset at DAM. Touching the outdoor sculptures isn't allowed, so set expectations before the loop.
Kids' Corner
Young kidsThe museum's dedicated interactive family space, on the lower level. Open during regular museum hours (Wed–Sun, plus Thursday evenings). The room you head for first with young kids; the museum recently reimagined it with a Family-in-Residence.
Sculpture Garden Happy Hour
All agesThursday evenings May through summer. Live music, food trucks, lawn chairs, families everywhere. Reads adult-only on paper but is one of the most family-friendly Thursday nights in NCC. Free, you just walk in; cash bar.
Family 2nd Sunday
Ages 2–10Monthly family day on the second Sunday: hands-on art-making at Creation Station, Studio Explorers sessions, and storytime in Kids' Corner. Included with general admission; free for members.
Little Listeners
PreschoolersMonthly interactive storytime for preschoolers and early learners in Kids' Corner, third Wednesday of the month, 10:30–11:30 AM. Included with general admission; free for members.
Howard Pyle Illustration Galleries
Ages 4–12Pirate, fantasy, and storybook illustration by the founder of the Brandywine School. Reads like a children's book brought to gallery scale — kids engage with it much more than with most fine-art collections.
Pre-Raphaelite Collection
Ages 6+A major British Pre-Raphaelite collection, with significant holdings of Rossetti. Lush, narrative paintings. Kids respond to the storytelling more than the technique — point out the characters.
Free Thursday Evenings
All agesGeneral admission is free Thursdays 4–8 PM, April–December. Pair with the Happy Hour concerts in summer for a full Thursday evening outing at no admission cost.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Trying to cover the whole museum in one visit. Pick two galleries (the illustration rooms + one rotating exhibit), then the Sculpture Garden. Save the rest for next time.
- • Mondays and Tuesdays — closed.
- • Crowded openings or member previews — those are designed for grown-ups.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
$18
Kids
$6 (ages 7–18)
Under
Free (ages 6 and under)
Students with ID $7. Seniors 65+ $16. Members free. General admission is free on Thursdays 4–8 PM, April–December.
Membership tip: A family membership is a strong value if you go more than twice a year — free admission, reciprocal admission at many other museums (NARM/ROAM networks), and discounted summer camp pricing. The summer art camp itself is a separate paid program.
Getting There
Parking
Free on-site lot behind the Museum, accessible from Kentmere Parkway. Plenty of space on most days; fills on Family 2nd Sundays and busy Sculpture Garden Happy Hour nights.
On Sculpture Garden Happy Hour nights, the lot can overflow — Kentmere Parkway has free street parking, and there's additional street parking on Bancroft Parkway. Arrive a few minutes early on those nights.
Entrance
Main entrance off the parking lot at the back of the building. Stroller-accessible ramp; the ticket desk is right inside. The Sculpture Garden has its own entrances from the grounds — you don't need a ticket to walk it.
Parent Logistics
Single strollers and front-facing child carriers are welcome in the galleries — and the museum has single strollers available to borrow if you'd rather not haul yours in. Double-wide strollers, back-carriers, and backpacks are not allowed in the galleries . The building has elevators between floors, wide gallery openings, and an open floor plan. The Copeland Sculpture Garden has a paved main pathway; the walk up to the labyrinth and the labyrinth itself aren't wheelchair-accessible, so expect to carry a stroller or leave it on the path.
Clean restrooms on the main level and in the Studio wing. Additional restrooms on the lower level near Kids' Corner.
Changing tables in the accessible restrooms on the main floor and in the Studio wing. The lower-level restrooms near Kids' Corner also have counter space for changing.
The museum is fully indoor/climate-controlled. The Sculpture Garden has a mix of open lawns and shaded paths under mature trees — there's enough shade for a hot summer afternoon, but bring hats for the open areas.
Food & Snacks
Kaffeina at Thronson Café, on site, is open Wed–Sun 10:30 AM–3:30 PM with extended Thursday evening hours (until 7 PM) April through December. Coffee, pastries, light café fare. During Sculpture Garden Happy Hour Thursdays, rotating food trucks also set up on the grounds.
Snack strategy: Kaffeina at Thronson Café covers a coffee or light bite during museum hours. Pack a snack if you've got toddlers — the Sculpture Garden has benches and lawn space that work for a picnic. For a proper meal, Trolley Square (5 min) has family-friendly options like Snuff Mill Station and Pizza by Elizabeths; Branmar Plaza and the Brandywine Park area are also nearby.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Free Thursday evenings + Sculpture Garden Happy Hour is the highest-value family night DAM offers. Go for the music and lawn, dip into the galleries if you feel like it.
- ✓ Family 2nd Sunday is the easiest first visit — programming is designed for kids, so you're not trying to invent the experience yourself.
- ✓ Pack a picnic blanket. The Sculpture Garden is half the visit for most under-5s, and a blanket is the difference between a 30-minute stop and an hour.
- ✓ If your kid is into pirates, dragons, or fairy tales, lead with the Howard Pyle galleries. They're the easiest sell.
- ✓ Membership pays for itself fast if you do more than two visits a year, and the NARM/ROAM reciprocal admission is a real perk for travel.
- ✓ Touching is off-limits on the outdoor sculptures too — set the expectation before the lawn loop. "Walking feet, careful hands, looking eyes" is the museum's own phrase.
- ✓ Forgot the stroller? The museum has single strollers available to borrow. Note that double-wide strollers and back-carriers aren't allowed in the galleries.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Sunday mornings (10 AM open, fewer crowds, calmer). Thursday evenings April–December when admission is free 4–8 PM — and during summer the Sculpture Garden Happy Hour concerts run on those Thursdays. Family 2nd Sundays (monthly) are the highest-value family days.
Seasonal Notes
Open Wed–Sun 10–4 year-round; Thursday evenings extended to 8 PM April through December. The Sculpture Garden Happy Hour series runs on summer Thursday evenings: free, you just walk in (museum admission is included), with live performances, food trucks, a cash bar and lawn games, and families welcome. Bad weather can move it indoors or cancel it; check the calendar for dates. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; closes at 4 PM on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Rainy Day?
DAM is one of the better rainy-day indoor options in NCC for the 3–10 set. The galleries plus a Family 2nd Sunday or Little Listeners session can fill a half-day comfortably. Pair with lunch in Trolley Square for a full rainy outing.
While You're in the Area
Trolley Square (5 min) for lunch or coffee. Brandywine Park and the Zoo are 8 minutes east. Rockford Park and its tower are 5 minutes north — easy combo with the Sculpture Garden for an outdoor day.
Upcoming Events
DelArt Halloween Parade
Sat, Oct 24 at 11:00 AM
Families will walk through the museum grounds in costume during a festive Halloween parade, with opportunities to show off creative outfits and enjoy a DJ dance party afterward. The event includes candy and a family-friendly atmosphere, with all children required to register and pay a $5 fee.
More info7th Annual Día de los Muertos: Walking Among the Ancestors
Thu, Oct 29 at 4:00 PM
Families can participate in a multigenerational celebration honoring ancestors through ceremony, music, and art. Attendees are invited to contribute photos and food offerings to community ofrendas, explore artisan vendors, and enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine from local food vendors. The event features live performances by Los Ninos Cantores de Delaware, Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo HAAD, and Seylin Abarca, with a sacred ceremony led by Tonanatzin Yaotecat.
More infoFamily 2nd Sunday
Sun, Nov 8 at 10:00 AM
Families can explore hands-on art activities throughout the day, including open-ended creative play at the Creation Station, guided art projects with a professional artist in Studio Explorers, and interactive story time with music and movement in Giggles and Tales. The event offers a variety of experiences designed for children and adults to create and connect together in a supportive, imaginative environment. All activities are included with museum admission, which is free for members and available to non-members via on-site purchase.
More infoMusic School of Delaware Performance Series Collab featuring Mosaic String Duo
Wed, Nov 18 at 7:00 PM
Families will experience a live concert featuring the Mosaic String Duo, an eclectic ensemble blending flamenco, Middle Eastern, classical, and rock influences. The performance takes place in the museum's Fusco Hall, offering a welcoming setting for audiences to enjoy instrumental virtuosity and improvisational style. Beer and wine will be available for purchase, and the event is part of a multi-evening series highlighting diverse musical styles.
More infoDelArt Night: When the Condor Nation and Eagle Nation Meet featuring Boe Harris & Richie Olivera
Thu, Nov 19 at 5:00 PM
Families will experience a dual performance by master flutists Boe Harris and Richie Olivera, who represent Northern and Southern Indigenous traditions through traditional music. The evening includes a guided tour of the Living in the Present exhibition in the Jefferson Lobby, connecting story, sound, and visual culture to honor the ancient prophecy of the Condor and Eagle nations. The event celebrates Native Heritage Month with a focus on cultural exchange and artistic expression.
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