Then, Now, & What’s Next
Exploring the stories behind some of Delaware’s most interesting historic properties.
1 | 1925 Lovering Avenue, Wilmington, DE
Built in 1815 as the second home of the historic Bank of Delaware in downtown Wilmington, the building at 1925 Lovering Avenue carries a rich legacy tied to the city’s early commercial development. In the early 1930s, the structure was carefully dismantled and relocated from Market Street to its current site, where it was reconstructed to serve as the Delaware Academy of Medicine. The property remains a notable example of early 19th-century architecture and one of Wilmington’s most unique historic preservation success stories.
Size: ±17,009 SF / Use: Office / Opportunity: Sale-Leaseback
2 | Darley House, Claymont, DE
Built in the late 18th century and later expanded, Darley House was once home to celebrated American illustrator Felix Octavius Carr Darley. Darley brought to life the works of literary giants including Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, and Charles Dickens. His illustrations helped shape how generations of readers imagined some of literature’s most memorable characters and stories.
Size: ±138-250 SF / Use: Single, private offices / Opportunity: Lease
3 | Fort DuPont, Delaware City, DE
Situated along the Delaware River in Delaware City, Fort DuPont traces its military history to the late 19th century, when it was established as part of the nation’s coastal defense system. Named for Rear Admiral Samuel Francis du Pont, the fort helped protect the strategically important Delaware River. Today, its surviving historic buildings and grounds offer a glimpse into Delaware’s military heritage and changing role of the site over more than a century.
Size: ±0.23-6 AC / Use: Mixed Use / Opportunity: Land and Multifamily for Sale
4 | Johnson Victrola Museum, Dover, DE
The Johnson Victrola Museum celebrates Delaware’s connection to the early recording industry and Eldridge Reeves Johnson, a Delaware native who founded the Victor Talking Machine Company. Johnson helped revolutionize how Americans experienced music, bringing recorded sound into homes across the country through the iconic Victrola. Opened in 1967, the museum preserves this legacy through its collection of early phonographs, recordings and memorabilia, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of recorded sound.
Construction highlights include HVAC, electrical and plumbing improvements, new exhibit lighting, accessible restroom renovations, and building updates supporting the museum’s continued public use. The museum anticipates reopening in late November 2026.
About NAI Emory Hill
NAI Emory Hill is a full-service commercial real estate, construction, property management, and maintenance company serving clients across Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region. Celebrating 45 years of experience, NAI Emory Hill brings in-depth market knowledge, regional expertise, and an integrated service approach that supports clients at every stage of the real estate cycle. Learn more at naiemoryhill.com
About NAI Global
NAI Global is a leading global commercial real estate brokerage firm. NAI Global offices are leaders in their local markets and work in unison to provide clients with exceptional solutions to their commercial real estate needs. NAI Global has more than 325 offices strategically located throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, with over 5,800 local market professionals, managing in excess of 1.1 billion square feet of property and facilities. Annually, NAI Global completes in excess of $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions throughout the world. NAI Global provides a complete range of corporate and institutional real estate services, including brokerage and leasing, property and facilities management, real estate investment and capital market services, due diligence, global supply chain and logistics consulting and related advisory services. To learn more, visit naiglobal.com