George Read II House

New Castle, Delaware is a beautiful and historic town on the Delaware River … just below Wilmington and about 40 miles south of Philadelphia. Perhaps the most famous house museum in New Castle is the George Read House and Gardens. I decided since I was in New Castle to have a look at it. When I arrived at the Read House, I discovered that you had to go on a tour and though one had just started, it was filled so I would have to wait 50 minutes for the next one. I was told to explore the garden by the house to fill in the time. Well there was nothing to see in the garden — at least at the end of September. Now if it was cold outside — would they still send you out into the garden to wait? Maybe they could have an inside waiting area … maybe apply to a foundation to get a grant in order to make a short orientation film while you wait. The tour itself was decent but annoyingly no photography was allowed. Why? I can see not allowing flash photography (which could over time fade colors) but it’s silly in the age of digital photography to ban it all together. The tour leader did say I could photograph outside in the garden at the end of the tour but what was there to photograph in the garden except to show that it was a laid-​out green space (no flowers). Three stars is more than fair for the George Read House.

Even though Georgie #2 offers nothing in American history other than being the son of one of the founding fathers, his house is worth a tour. $ 7 admission for adults, 40 min tour. I enjoy historical homes of any era for a sneak peak into how difficult life used to be.