About Us

Preservation Delaware, Inc. is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Delaware’s architectural heritage and historic settings through education, public policy initiatives and technical assistance.

Preservation Delaware sees a future in which dedicated members of the community can actively preserve and maintain historical landmarks from the dangers of development and decay with the responsible allocation of government resources.

PDI works hard to remain a presence in today’s economic atmosphere of high-cost development plans and sweeping demolitions of historic buildings. PDI has a seat at the table during the State Historic Preservation Office’s 5-year comprehensive plan, and advocates in favor of programs, legislation, and regulation changes that preserve our historic heritage sites.

Preservation Delaware, Inc (PDI) was founded in 1993 by a group dedicated to protecting the architectural and archaeological heritage of Delaware.

With an impassioned vision to preserve local sites slated for demolition and foster restoration and protection of sites, PDI created a plan that included education programs, public outreach and policy change.  PDI organizes and hosts an annual conference and other virtual and in-person educational workshops.  One of the founding goals was the establishment of a preservation revolving fund that would allow PDI to intervene to save threatened properties or to provide funding incentives for property owners to preserve them, and in 2001 the Delaware Preservation Fund (DPF) was created with state and foundation support.  The DPF now grants more than $50,000 a year to support preservation projects across the state.

In the years since its founding, PDI has realized a number of accomplishments, which include sponsoring conferences and educational workshops, advocating to ensure the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program in 2001, and the reauthorization of the program for an additional ten years in 2010. Currently, Preservation Delaware is developing a series of programs for members of historic preservation commissions, as well as launching hands-on workshops designed to teach participants the “how-to’s” of rehabilitation and preservation projects such as weatherproofing, plumbing, and replacing and restoring windows.

In 1998-99, PDI assumed ownership of the historic Gibraltar estate in Wilmington and undertook an extensive restoration of the Marian Coffin Gardens and opening them for public enjoyment as an urban oasis in the City and honoring the legacy of Coffin.  Designed and built by Marian Cruger Coffin in the early 1900’s, the gardens were the first in a long line of high profile contracts in Coffin’s exceptional career in landscape architecture, a field dominated by men at the time. Once flourishing with ornamental statues and colorful plants from all over the world, the gardens were left to decay until PDI raised funds and began the arduous task of restoring its brilliance. Now PDI continues to maintain the garden, which is open to the public all year long, and provides an invaluable oasis of peace behind its high stone walls.