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Know about Hotel Du Pont, Wilmington

Our History

An Icon Made Modern

To step inside the HOTEL DU PONT is to become a part of the past, present and future. The architectural icon and internationally renowned hotel has many stories to tell. Situated at the intersection of 11th and Market in downtown Wilmington, the heart of Delaware's picturesque Brandywine Valley, the HOTEL DU PONT stands as a timeless beacon of hospitality and elegance. Today, it opens its doors to a new generation of travelers, ready to be captivated by its unique blend of tradition and modernity.
An Icon of style, Wilmington

Gilded Age Style

Once the headquarters for the DuPont Company, the building is a landmark example of Italian Renaissance architecture. Rich in history and tradition, today's guests are transported back to the Gilded Age, an era of elegance and style. Gathering spaces fill the hotel from the extraordinary Gold Ballroom to Le Cavalier, a perfect mix of old-world sophistication and contemporary sensibility. HOTEL DU PONT continues to honor its legendary past while delivering effortlessly modern hospitality.

Our History

After opening, the hotel instantly earned international fame, rivaling the finest hotels in New York and Europe while serving as the business and social center for the Wilmington community. Expansion of the property in 1918 brought the addition of more guestrooms and the Ballroom Suite including the Du Barry Room and the Gold Ballroom.

Throughout its more than 100-year history, the hotel has undergone thoughtful renovations and updates to accommodate present-day preferences and prepare for the future while staying true to our past.

Our history, Wilmington
Grand architecture, Wilmington

Grand Architecture

HOTEL DU PONT is the epitome of grandeur with stunning architecture and interiors that will take your breath away. Imported European chandeliers, hand-carved wood details, and sweeping staircases surround you in true vintage fashion.

The twelve-story Italian Renaissance building debuted in 1913 after a two-and-a-half-year construction process that was a true labor of love. French and Italian craftsmen carved, gilded, and painted this extraordinarily detailed architectural gem. From the lobby's lavish splendor to the shimmering majesty of the Gold Ballroom, the craftmanship is truly awe-inspiring.

built for business

Built for Business

At the turn of the 20th-century, Wilmington was quickly becoming a city of corporations and demands for hotel accommodations were increasing. As headquarters of the Du Pont company, the addition of the hotel was commissioned by Pierre S. du Pont who envisioned a hotel that would match the international prestige of the chemical giant. No expense was spared in the creation of the Wilmington's crown achievement. For more than a century, HOTEL DU PONT has remained the landmark destination for business travelers and the epicenter of the Wilmington community.
Pièce de Résistance

Pièce de Résistance

Part of the 1918 expansion, the Gold Ballroom is a true testament to craftmanship and artistry. The ceiling detail features bas-relief medallions of twenty acclaimed women from diverse backgrounds including Cleopatra, Pocahontas and Queen of Sheba. The walls depict women in cultural dress mixed with draped mythological figures executed in sgraffito, a "scratching" technique where the design is hand-cut into multiple layers of colored plaster. It took thirty artisans more than a year to complete the room in this lost art.
Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love

Legend has it that Prince Rainier III of Monaco conducted the marriage negotiations for the hand of Grace Kelly at the HOTEL DU PONT in 1955. Miss Kelly said "yes" to Rainier, initiating her career change from Oscar winning actress to her most enduring role as Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco in what was America's first fairytale wedding.
Presidential Treatment

Presidential Treatment

Throughout its 110-year history, HOTEL DU PONT has welcomed nearly a dozen presidents including William H. Taft, Warren G. Harding, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy Jr., Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush.

In 2020, Wilmington was thrust into the national spotlight as the hometown of the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden. Biden launched his first senatorial campaign in the foyer of the Gold Ballroom in 1972. In his third run for the White House, he returned to this same historic location to accept his party's nomination when the Democratic National Convention moved from Milwaukee to Wilmington.

The Guestbook

The Guestbook

Of course, the only thing as legendary as the hotel's architectural design is the lobby registry. Through the years the hotel as played host to politicians, dignitaries, corporate giants, professional athletes and celebrities. Walk in the footsteps of history with the likes of Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Aerhart, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Joe DiMaggio, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry Kissinger, Lucille Ball, Julie Andrews, Barry Manilow, Bruce Willis, Christopher Reeves, Reese Witherspoon, Dennis Rodman, Colin Powell, Jon Bon Jovi, James Earl Jones, Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and many more.