Rockford Park in Wilmington is one of the oldest parks in Delaware. It was established by William Poole Bancroft, who also had a hand in many of Delaware’s city, state and federal parks. In 1889, he donated 59 acres to establish Rockford Park. Currently, the park is a big tract of open land and surrounded by gorgeous wooded areas, making it a popular spot for picnics, jogging, flying kites, playing ball, tennis, and hiking. There’s even an off-leash dog park!

In 1901, a large, 75 foot stone tower was built as a water tower and an observation tower for the park and surrounding areas. The Tower’s water tank is surrounded by a spiral staircase that leads to the observation level, allowing for a view of the park and beautiful Brandywine River. Climb up Rockford Tower to experience some of the best views in Delaware, and enjoy the sight of the Brandywine River winding away in the distance.

Construction on the tower began in 1900.
Facebook / Wilmington and Brandywine Valley
The land for the park and the tower was donated by Bancroft, but he did convince the DuPont family to contribute an additional 9 acres.
Facebook / Hagely Museum, 1969.002, Longwood Photo Collection
E. I. du Pont III and Fred Gentieu looking at the DuPont Experimental Station from the top of Rockford Tower in 1969.
From the beginning, the Rockford Tower was a popular observation point.
Flickr / Richard
Facebook / Richard

Related Stories

The Incredible Salt Cave In Delaware That Completely Relaxes You

The Incredible Salt Cave In Delaware That Completely Relaxes You

 11 Of The Most Enchanting Man Made Wonders in Delaware

11 Of The Most Enchanting Man Made Wonders in Delaware

 The Rare Natural Phenomenon In Delaware That Will Go Down In History

The Rare Natural Phenomenon In Delaware That Will Go Down In History
Flickr / Richard
These old slides were discovered by Flickr user Richard, and they all seem to date from 1910 to 1930. Check out how different this section of Wilmington once looked! This is a long time before it became the crowded, bustling city. You can see the old Covered Bridge in this last photo.
Present day Rockford Tower is just as beautiful as it was when it was built.
Facebook / ARSP WSP
The Tower stands over a well-kept park and casts its shadow on picnickers and joggers when the sun is out. The Wilmington Flower Market is held at the base of the tower, and Alapocas Run / Wilmington State Parks host events at the park year-round.
The Tower is a popular subject for photographers in Delaware, too.
Facebook / Only in Delaware / Matt Gordon
In all seasons, photographers make the trek to Rockford Park to take pictures of the iconic stone tower.
And, of course, it is open for climbing!
Facebook / ARSP WSP
Right now, Rockford Tower opens to the public for climbing on Sundays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. In nasty weather, the Tower might be closed.
So, set aside a nice Sunday afternoon to see Delaware like you never have before!
Facebook / 93.7 WSTW
Rolling hills and the sprawling city - enjoy the opportunity to see it all! The climb up to the tower is easy and you'll really feel like you're a part of history. Look out over New Castle County and try to imagine it 100 years ago.

Check out some of the other views you can catch from around Rockford Tower this fall with this great drone video:

Looking for more great views in Delaware? You can’t go wrong climbing one of the historic observation towers along Delaware’s most beautiful hike.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Delaware