You can be pretty sure I am going to look for historic places when going on a hike. And this was historic for me, because this almost 3 hour hike came the day after I got my second Covid vaccine shot. Yes, I was tired afterwards, as was my friend Brenda, who is always up for a nice hike.
We started out by the Delaware Art Museum on Kentmere Parkway and found our way off of Mill. Rd. and on a steep path leading down to the River. After crossing on the old "swinging bridge", we made our way along the path and ended up crossing back over at Van Buren St. by the zoo.
Brandywine Park winds alongside the Brandywine River in the heart of the city. Established in 1886, it is the largest urban park in Delaware, and much like Central Park, owes its origin to the late 19th century “Natural Landscape Movement” of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. The Park fulfilled the need for public recreational space within a larger urban environment.
Brandywine Park was added to the National Historic Register in 1976. The 178-acre park features wooded trails, formal gardens, sculpture, architecture, a sports stadium and a zoo. Stretching along a one-mile run of the Brandywine River, the park offers visitors outdoor recreation, picnic spots and cultural events. Nearly every day there is a flurry of activity in the park – from runners, to cyclists, to children playing, to people simply partaking in the beauty of this historic landmark. And with the melting snow patches and bright sunlight, the runners and dog walkers were out in full force. (photo at top is the Augustine RR Bridge)
After crossing the swinging bridge, we found ourselves walking alongside the old mill race (in the 1700's, there were many mills along this swift river) which now serves as part of Wilmington's water supply.
Abive you see the old Augustine RR bridge through the interstate highway bridge, and a River view past a pumping station.
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