7 Abandoned Places in Delaware That Nature is Reclaiming

As the oldest state in the nation, having ratified the Constitution in 1787, Delaware's history goes back...way back. The state has seen its share of buildings come and go, from traditional colonial establishments to agricultural buildings and industrial sites. We found images of these several abandoned places in Delaware that have been turned over to the Earth itself.

We know that some of these places are up for demolition eventually (if not already), so we figured we should share the photos with you before the places themselves are memories forever. So here, in no particular order, are a handful of photos of abandoned Delaware that have not been forgotten by the photographers who "discovered" them.

1. Bancroft Mills, Wilmington

Dating back to the year Delaware became a state, this site has been the location for many mills along the Brandywine River. The buildings officially closed in 1961, but certain portions have been renovated into condominiums. Over the years, multiple fires have damaged the ruins of these abandoned mills in Delaware.

2. Reedy Island Range Light, Taylor's Bridge

This range light is still in use but was automated many years ago, so the surrounding structures are in disrepair. Built in the early 1900s, this and other range lights built along the Delaware coast helped with navigation upon the dredging of a new channel for the Delaware Bay.

3. Garrett Snuff Mill, Yorklyn

Also known as the George W. Helme Company, this site was operated by the Garrett family for the milling of tobacco dating back to 1846. Much of Yorklyn features remnants of Delaware's industrial past.

4. Gibraltar (Hugh Rodney Sharp Mansion), Wilmington

If you're interested in abandoned places in Wilmington, you have to check out this stunning mansion. While the Gibraltar Mansion looks oddly beautiful, taken over by wisteria, the hope is that it won't look like this for much longer. Built in the mid-1840s, the mansion was abandoned years later, and in 1997, efforts slowly started to restore the gardens to their original beauty. Today, you can visit the Marion Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar. This is one of the most beautiful abandoned places in Delaware.

5. Ship John Shoal Lighthouse, Delaware Bay

The history of Ship John Shoal Light is long and complex. Marking the north side of the shipping channel of the Delaware Bay off the coast from Bombay Hook, the light is now automated. In 2011, the federal government made it available for free to any organization or person willing to restore it.

6. Caretaker's House, Delaware Breakwater Rear Range Light

While the lighthouse at the west end of Lewes was relocated to Florida in 1927 after being disassembled in 1919, some of the supporting buildings still remain.

7. Old Granary, Sussex County

Abandoned barns, granaries, and silos dot the state of Delaware, speaking to the state's deep agricultural roots. If you take a drive through Sussex County, you'll find plenty of these breathtaking buildings covered in Ivy and rotting away due to a decline in agriculture and a change in the supply chain.

Have you stumbled upon any of these old, abandoned places in Delaware? We're now on a mission to take photos of others that we see peeking out from behind trees along the roadways. Be sure to share any abandoned or otherwise creepy places in Delaware that you know of.