duPont Memorial Carillon - Wilmington, DE, USA - Carillon on Waymarking.com

This 210 tall Carillon tower is no longer on the main duPont Museum grounds, but is now within the wall for the grounds for the Nemours Children's Hospital. It was designed by Alfred I. duPont and his son through the firm Massena and duPont. It was constructed in 1934-1936. The Carillon itself still operates and is guarded by four stone eagles at the summit of the tower. Six duPont family member are interred here.

Apparently, when the Carillon was completed in 1936, it was atop the largest reinforced concrete tower in the world. The tower exterior is constructed of pink and white marble with Brandywine blue rock steps and outfitted with 31 bronze bells.


According to the Website (visit link) , the following information can be presented about the Carillon:

It is considered a non-traditional Carillon, as a computerized automatic mechanism was installed in 1990 (an 'electric keyboard Carillon', even though the bells are original from 1936). There are 30 bells remaining with the heaviest bell being C in the middle octave. Apparently there are two missing semitones (I am guessing since there were 31 bells originally, that one missing semitone might have been from that bell). The bells themselves were produced by Meneely/Wvlt.

In 2018, the Carillon was renovated:

(visit link)

And, keeping with the times, the tower can be heard on a facebook page:

(visit link)

Location: 1519 Rockland Rd Wilmington, DE USA 19803 Who controls the carillon?: Children's Hospital - Wilmington, DE Number of bells: 30 Schedule of regular public performances: The bells sound hourly, Year of construction: 01/01/1936 Structure: Top of a Tower Location web page: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
An original photograph of the carillon is required. One of you and your crew doing your very best imitation of Quasimodo and/or Esmeralda will be most appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   02/21/2024 oboegary & delaware hiker visited it