Read House & Gardens
Protect a piece of local and national history! The one-of-a-kind scenic wallpaper in our dining room documents how New Castle history has been told over time—and by whom. Your dollars will replace broken Venetian blinds that regulate light levels in the room, preventing damage to this treasured artifact.
About Read House & Gardens
Mission: Protect a piece of local and national history! The one-of-a-kind scenic wallpaper in our dining room documents how New Castle history has been told over time—and by whom. Your dollars will replace broken Venetian blinds that regulate light levels in the room, preventing damage to this treasured artifact.
The Read House & Gardens comprises a 14,000-square-foot mansion built between 1797 and 1804 and formal gardens added in 1847–48. As an outstanding example of Philadelphia federal style architecture, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017. George Read II was the first U.S. Attorney for Delaware, and his father was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Under the stewardship of Phillip and Lydia Chichester Laird in the 20th century, the house and grounds became a model of the colonial revival movement and appeared widely in American lifestyle and design publications. Since the Delaware Historical Society took ownership in 1975, it has undertaken extensive research and preservation projects, combining federal grant support with generous contributions from local Delaware residents and charitable foundations. The Read House of the 2020s welcomes audiences to special events such as concerts, lectures, and art installations. Public tours and school programs are offered throughout the year and engages audiences through Instagram and Facebook.
County Served: New Castle
Office Location(s): New Castle
Sector: Arts & Culture; Education; Museums & Historical