Woodburn: Governor's House

About this museum

Every governor of Delaware has called Woodburn home since 1966, which makes it simultaneously one of America's more peculiar historic house museums and one of its most accessible - a working executive residence that opens its doors for public tours of a Georgian mansion built around 1798, when Delaware was still finding its footing as the first state in the newly formed American union. The house's dual identity as historical artifact and active political residence gives any visit an immediacy that period - room museums frozen at a particular moment in time can't quite replicate.The architecture alone merits the trip. Woodburn's Georgian design reflects the educated tastes of the Delaware gentry at the turn of the nineteenth century, and the house has been maintained and interpreted with the resources of the state's historic preservation program behind it. The period furnishings, formal gardens, and original structural elements combine to create an environment that communicates the domestic ambitions of Delaware's colonial and early republican elite without requiring the visitor to bring extensive prior knowledge.Guided tours are the primary way to experience Woodburn, and the guided format works particularly well here: the house's history is layered enough - multiple families over more than two centuries, a reported ghost, the transition to gubernatorial use - that having an interpreter to organize the narrative makes a significant difference. Special events and open house programs throughout the year offer additional points of entry.With a 4.4 rating from 76 visitors, Woodburn attracts an appreciative audience of history enthusiasts and curious travelers. Admission is free, consistent with Delaware's commitment to public access to its historic properties. Located at 151 Kings Hwy Southwest in Dover, Delaware, Woodburn is steps from other historic attractions in the state capital. Visit woodburn.delaware.gov for current tour schedules and event programming.