Bellevue State Park (Delaware) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bellevue State Park |
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Walking trail at Bellevue State Park.
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 Bellevue State Park
Location in Delaware
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| Location | New Castle, Delaware, United States |
| Area | 328 acres (133 ha) |
| Elevation | 190 ft (58 m) |
| Established | 1976 |
| Named for | Bellevue Hall |
| Governing body | Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control |
| Website | Bellevue State Park |
Bellevue State Park is a cool place to visit in Delaware! It's a big park, about 328 acres, located near Wilmington. This park used to be the fancy home of William du Pont Jr.. Many of the buildings you see there today were built by his family.
The park looks out over the Delaware River. It is open every day, all year round, from morning until sunset. You can even find an old church, the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage, inside the park. It's a historic spot that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Contents
Park History: From Mansion to Park
The land that makes up Bellevue State Park was once a large estate. It belonged to a rich wool merchant named Hanson Robinson. In 1855, Robinson built a special castle on his property. It was called Woolton Hall and was built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looked like old castles from the past.
The castle had several towers. From these towers, Robinson could see amazing views of the Delaware River. You can still find a small monument near the park entrance. It marks the year he built his home.
New Owners and Changes
After Robinson passed away, a shipping businessman named C. R. Griggs bought the estate. Griggs kept Woolton Hall as it was. But he added a carriage house in the 1870s. This building held his collection of old carriages.
In 1893, William du Pont Sr. bought the estate. He added many new buildings. These included barns and stables for horses. When he died in 1928, his son, William du Pont Jr., inherited the property.
Bellevue Hall and Family Life
William du Pont Jr. changed Woolton Hall a lot. He made it look like Montpelier. This was the former home of President James Madison. It was also where du Pont Jr. grew up. After the changes, the home was renamed Bellevue Hall.
William du Pont Jr. loved horses and sports. He was married to Jean Liseter Austin for a time. During this marriage, he built many horse facilities. These included two indoor tracks and one outdoor track for horses. Later, he married tennis player Margaret Osborne duPont. Together, they added more fun places to the estate. They built a swimming pool and both indoor and outdoor tennis courts.
Becoming a State Park
William du Pont Jr. died in 1965. His children did not want to keep the big estate with all its buildings. So, in 1976, the state of Delaware bought the property. It was then opened to everyone as Bellevue State Park. Now, many people can enjoy this beautiful and historic place!
Images for kids
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A barn at Bellevue State Park.
