read house and gardens

was a lovely tour of an 14,000 sq foot house from victorian era on the Del river. house tour was about 45 minutes long. $7 for adults. very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. it was worth it.

Read House Museum was open during New Castle's extensive weekend holiday activities. Nice house with docents to explain the history of the family and each of the 4 rooms that were open on display, decorated with periodic decorations. Only $2 per person cost.

This was an interesting place to stop for an hour or so. The house has been restored in some parts to its original state, and in other parts it is restored to what it looked like when subsequent owners were living there. As a casual observer, I would say that the restoration work is quite nice. One thing we found new and interesting was the "punch and gouge" style woodwork. It is everywhere in the house and is quite nicely preserved.As with so many of these old houses, the furnishings are not original; although, many are of the period. When George Read II and his son George III died, his belongings were inventoried and then were sold off to pay debts. This is a common practice and the reason that there are no original furnishings.Although the house and its original owner are interesting, the real story of the area is George Read, the father. This man was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution as well as a Senator and Chief Justice of Delaware. It would have been nice to include more about him in the tour discussion. I don't think I would travel a long way to see just this place. We ended up here because we were visiting things in Wilmington and it was a short drive.

Beautiful house, very interesting history. Rooms are preserved at different times in the home's history which makes for a more interesting tour.

Yes kids enjoyed it and very beautiful. Learned a lot about the plants. Excellent experience. Hope to visit another time and great outdoor place to be in

The George Read house , in the historic section of New Castle, is one of the best presented early American homes I've ever visited. We stopped there on a whim, on a blustery mid-week afternoon, and were treated to a detailed tour. Our docent's knowledge of the house, its occupants, and the time periods represented by the decor was prodigious. If an historic site is presented without context, it quickly becomes a boring series of decorated rooms. We were never bored, with each space described not only in function and decor, but how its use reflected the era's culture. The gardens are also well maintained. New Castle has several historic buildings available for tours - I recommend that you start here.

There aren't many places in the US that date back 212 years! A great example of early American ingenuity and design, the Read House offers a peek into life in the early 1800's. Over the house's lifespan, only three individuals have owned it, mostly keeping the integrity and opulence of the time period. Most of what had been changed or updated (plumbing, heating) has been restored to its earlier condition (i.e., no plumbing or heating.) Three renovated rooms have been saved to reflect the style and interests of the third owners in the 1920's. The contrast between Early American and partying flappers during prohibition is very interesting. Our docent was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. In addition to the house and it's owners' history, it offers a better understanding of politics, social issues and the economics of Delaware before the US was a country. Worth your time!

This is a Georgian era home, quite attractive with a nice garden and views of the Delaware River. What I found most interesting about this home is the cellar which served as a tavern for the rich during prohibition when the owner would run their yachts and sea planes down to Cuba to pick up illegal booze and bring it back for their friends to enjoy.

This is a must do tour. The house is well kept and attractive from the outside with a beautiful garden. To purchase your ticket you will go thru the outside gate and down the steps to the side of the house. There are nice restrooms inside with a little gift shop selling Delaware items and Read House items. The guide had us then come in the front door like we were guests from back in the 1800's which was a nice touch. Note the beautiful period wall borders and the intricate hand-shaved woodwork mouldings. You will tour several rooms downstairs and upstairs ending at the 'man's cave' in the basement level. Antique furnishings stage set with detail. You cannot take photos inside the house but may ask to take a photo of the side garden from the upper window. It is interesting to learn about this family and what their life was like when this was a bustling river town. Our guide was knowledgable and took all our questions. They offer hearth cooking classes here which would be a fun thing to do.

George Read house is a definite must see and plan approx 1 hr for the tour, 20 minutes in the gift shoppe and allot at least 30 minutes to explore and enjoy the gardens. Docents are pretty knowledgeable and accommodating. Photos are not permitted in the house but allowed in the Gardens and all exterior shots of the house. Read house contains 22 rooms of which you visit two of the three floors as well as the basement and Garden areas. The house is conveniently situated in the New Castle Historical district on the Strand and within walking distance (2 or 3 blocks) to the New Castle Common, Old New Castle Court House and the Battery area (Delaware Bay). Make sure to purchase the $10 Read House guide "Read House and Gardens: One Site, Many Stories" for a fascinating history of the house as well as many wonderful photographs.

A well maintained piece of history and a must stop if touring Old New Castle. Imagine the warmth from the fireplace. Imagine cooking in it. You get a true feel of life when this country was born

My wife and I enjoyed our visit to the Read House and Gardens. The house was originally built by the son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and contains many interesting architectural features. The woodworking and trim were very interesting, as were many of the furnishings. The guide/docent was very knowledgeable and informative. We just wish she didn't say the word "actually" in just about every sentence.

Very pleasant grounds and gardens, especially if the weather is nice. Worth a visit

Liked the gardens and the house very much. Nice gift shop and staff. Would love to go back.

If you are looking for a lovely place by a river for an outdoor event like a reception, check the garden of this place out. Cute little gift shop in the basement. It is an interesting museum of Early American Life but it is the surrounding town that is the real attraction. Within 3 blocks of the Old Library Museum, Dutch House Museum, Amstel House Museum, Courthouse Museum, Battery Park.