 January 15, 1913, saw the opening of Wilmington’s Hotel du Pont, oneof the most lavish hotels of America’s Gilded Age and an immediaterival to Europe’s finest hotels. In its first week, 25,000 visitors toured theelegant rooms to see their rich woodwork, mosaic and terrazzo floors,handcrafted chandeliers, and gilded hallways, which had been createdby a host of French and Italian craftsmen. The DuPont Theatre was amarvel in itself; even today, it is larger than all but three other stages inthe nation. An extensive $40 million restoration has returned the lobbyto its original grandeur, and each guestroom has been sumptuouslyrefurbished. The hotel showcases original paintings of nationallyrecognized artists, including three generations of Wyeths.
1913
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