Hagley Museum near Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Brandywine River Powder Mills
1803 - 1921
| | Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 30, 2023
1. Brandywine River Powder Mills HMEL Marker
Founded by E.I. du Pont, the Brandywine Mills became the largest maker of explosive black powder in the United States. That success resulted directly from the firm's pioneering use of gunpowder processing machinery driven by water wheels and water turbines. Divided into separate buildings to promote safety, its rolling, graining, and glazing mills produced black powder in a range of grades for military, sporting, hunting, construction, and other applications.
Erected 2002 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks series list.
Location. 39° 46.571′ N, 75° 34.603′ W. Marker is near Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Hagley Museum. It is on Hagley Creek Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the hydraulic power plant building on the Hagley Museum grounds, reachable on foot or by tram after paying the entrance fee. Touch for map.
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Regionally, this marker is in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Industrial Power (a few steps from this marker); Transmitting Power With Line Shafts and Gears (within shouting distance of this marker); Site O: Power Plant (within shouting distance of this marker); Power of Powder / Press House Operations (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Explosion of 1920 (about 700 feet away); Missile Map of January 2, 1920 Explosion (about 700 feet away); Lesmok Mills (about 700 feet away); Leaving France / Arriving in America (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Also see . . .
1. Brandywine River Powder Mills.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 30, 2023
2. Brandywine River Powder Mills HMEL Marker
2. Hagley Museum and Library. (Submitted on September 1, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 229 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
