Explore the Beauty and History of the Marian Coffin Gardens with a Guided Garden Tour!
Step into a world of historic elegance and stunning landscapes with a guided tour of the Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar. Designed in 1916 by Marian Coffin, one of America’s first female landscape architects, this hidden gem in Wilmington showcases the formal grandeur of the Country Place Era. Whether you're a garden enthusiast, history buff, or simply curious, book a tour to learn more!
What You’ll Experience
Our guided tour takes you on a journey through beautifully restored garden 'rooms', highlighting their design, history, and future plans. Along the way, you’ll discover:
- The Main Flower Garden – A vibrant, symmetrical space where seasonal blooms pop, framed by Coffin’s timeless stonework and statues, including the restored Venus Bathing fountain.
- The Reflecting Pool – A serene pool and fountain filled with lush plantings, surrounded by mature trees.
- The Bald Cypress Allee – A stunning, cathedral-like walkway lined with 100 year-old towering bald cypress trees, ending in the elegant arched Teahouse structure.
- The Woodland Walk – A shaded, meandering path offering a contrast to the formal gardens. Witness its restoration and transformation after decades of invasive plant pressure.
- The Marble Staircase – A sweeping marble staircase connecting the Gardens to the Mansion Terrace. Gorgeous iron railings overlook a view of the Magnolia Grove.
- More Statues, Garden Rooms, and Features...
How to Take a Tour
We offer guided tours on select days, and you can join the following ways:
- Walk-ins Welcome – Simply arrive on-site and pay in cash before the tour begins. $10 per person.
- Reserve Online – Book your tour in advance through this webpage and show your receipt to the Garden Manager upon arrival.
- Groups of 10+ / Specific Date – Contact the Garden Manager at coffingardens@preservationde.org to book a Private Group Tour. We host garden clubs, field trips, and special groups.
Plan Your Visit
- Location: Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar, Wilmington, DE
- Tour Duration: Approximately 1 Hour
- Cost: $10 per person
- Availability: Check our online booking system for upcoming tour dates
- Parking: Please park along Green Hill Avenue or West 14th Street
- Restrooms: A Port-a-Potty is available for use. The building facilities are under construction.
Where to find the garden
The Marian Coffin Gardens are located at 1405 Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington Delaware
Designated Gifts in Support of the Coffin Gardens
Preservation Delaware welcomes one-time or annual gifts which directly support the annual maintenance of the Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar. Gifts can be made online, or by mail:
I'd Like to Support the Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar!
Preservation Delaware, Inc
P.O. Box 19
Rockland, DE 19732
Memo: Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar
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Grow the Endowment for the Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar
Your gift to the Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar Endowment Fund at the Delaware Community Foundation can ensure the ongoing care and public accessibility of this Wilmington historic gem.
Donations or planned gifts to the Garden Endowment Fund held at the DCF are welcome and vitally important to secure the future of this nationally renowned garden.
Grow the Gibraltar Gardens Endowment Fund
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Non-discrimination Statement:
Preservation Delaware does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
