An Icon Made Modern

Originally constructed in 1913 as an extension of the DuPont Company headquarters, this architectural masterpiece showcases the grandeur of Italian Renaissance Revival design, crafted to reflect the international prestige of the chemical giant. With no expense spared in its creation, it became Wilmington's first million-dollar hotel and a symbol of opulence. Steeped in history and tradition, HOTEL DU PONT invites guests to step back into the Gilded Age, a time of unparalleled elegance and sophistication.

HOTEL DU PONT embodies grandeur with its stunning architecture and exquisite interiors. Imported European chandeliers, soaring ceilings, hand-carved details, and sweeping staircases welcome you in true vintage fashion. The twelve-story Italian Renaissance masterpiece made its debut in 1913 after a two-and-a-half-year construction that was a labor of love. French and Italian artisans dedicated their expertise to carving, gilding, and painting every detail of this architectural marvel.

At the turn of the 20th century, Wilmington was rapidly evolving into a hub for corporations, driving increased demand for hotel accommodations. Recognizing this need, Pierre S. du Pont commissioned the construction of a hotel that would reflect the international prestige of the DuPont Company. For over a century, HOTEL DU PONT has stood as a landmark destination for business travelers and a cherished epicenter of the Wilmington community.

As part of the 1918 expansion, the Gold Ballroom stands as a testament to craftsmanship and artistry. Inspired by the women’s suffrage movement and under the direction of Violet Terwilliger, its details include twenty bas-relief medallions of influential women, such as Cleopatra and Pocahontas. The walls are adorned with images of women and Greek muses, created in sgraffito, a technique where designs are hand-cut into layers of colored plaster, by thirty artisans over a year.

Did you know the seeds of one of history’s most iconic love stories were sown at the HOTEL DU PONT? Prince Rainier III of Monaco often dined in the Green Room with Father Tucker, the chaplain from St. Anthony’s in Wilmington, who helped orchestrate the Prince’s introduction to Grace Kelly. To honor this connection, a table in the restaurant was christened the “Grace Kelly” table, a nod to what many consider America’s first fairytale wedding.

Throughout its 110-year history, HOTEL DU PONT has welcomed nearly a dozen presidents, including William H. Taft, Harry S. Truman, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush. Wilmington is also the hometown of the 46th President, Joseph R. Biden, who began his first senatorial campaign in the foyer of the Gold Ballroom in 1972 and later returned to this same historic venue to accept his party’s nomination.

Of course, the only thing as legendary as the hotel’s architectural design is the lobby registry. Through the years the HOTEL DU PONT has played host to politicians, dignitaries, corporate giants, professional athletes and celebrities. Walk in the footsteps of history with the likes of Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Joe DiMaggio, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lucille Ball, Julie Andrews, Stevie Wonder, Meryl Streep, Tiger Woods, SZA and many more.