For over a hundred years, Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, has welcomed business executives, hosted grand events, and stood as a luxurious destination worth visiting on its own merits.

Constructed in 1913 alongside the Du Pont Company headquarters, the property aimed to impress visiting leaders and tycoons drawn to the area by growing corporate power. European craftsmen created interiors in the Italian Renaissance Revival style that matched the splendor of historic palaces.

Those original details have been carefully maintained. Visitors today stroll across historic marble mosaic floors, enjoy meals at the classic French brasserie, and examine artifacts showcasing more than a century of stories displayed throughout the grand public spaces.

Tom Santora, the hotel historian who has worked there for 45 years, guided a tour of the elegant interiors earlier this year.

Italian Renaissance Revival design has defined the property since its debut more than a century ago.

The hotel opened in 1913 within the same complex as the Du Pont Company headquarters. The firm, founded in the 1700s and formally incorporated in 1802, built its wealth first through smokeless gunpowder production before expanding into chemicals.

Delaware attracted corporations with its business-friendly regulations and tax benefits. Pierre S. du Pont saw the demand for a high-end hotel suited to the executives and industrialists arriving during the Gilded Age.

The building rises 12 stories and covers an entire city block as a prominent downtown feature.

Construction costs reached one million dollars in 1913, equal to roughly 33.6 million dollars today. High demand led to an expansion completed in 1918 that added more guest rooms.

Notable visitors have ranged from entertainers and athletes to royalty, performers, and 13 U.S. presidents.

Former President Joe Biden, a longtime Wilmington resident, launched his 1972 Senate campaign at the hotel and returned often for political events. It is also thought to be where Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly confirmed their engagement in 1955.

The property is currently owned by the Buccini/Pollin Group and managed by PM Hotel Group.

Four room categories are offered: classic, heritage, luxury, and suites. Classic rooms begin at 599 dollars while one-bedroom suites start at 1,913 dollars.

The tour opened in the lobby, once a French salon-style sitting area known as the Rose Room.

During the 1918 expansion the space became the main lobby, featuring new marble floors and a ceiling modeled after the Ducal Palace in Venice. The area rug incorporates a rose-petal motif honoring its earlier name.

A walnut grandfather clock has stood in the lobby since the hotel first opened.

Built in England in 1910 and shipped to Wilmington, the timepiece continues to operate more than a century later.

A corridor off the lobby displays historical exhibits and early artifacts.

Items include china pieces and a 1912 cigarette box found inside a wall during 1992 renovations.

Original marble mosaic floors remain visible in several areas, including the entrance to the Green Room.

Each small tile was placed by hand to form the intricate patterns.

The Green Room, the hotel dining space that houses a French restaurant, retains much of its original architecture.

It now contains Le Cavalier, a French brasserie whose name references the Du Pont family passion for equestrian activities.

Walnut paneling covers the walls while the coffered ceilings are plaster painted to resemble wood.

Such hand-painted plaster finishes were status symbols in the Gilded Age because they required greater skill and expense than using actual wood or marble.

A balcony allowed musicians to perform for diners during evening meals.

Harpists or small ensembles typically provided the entertainment.

The bar represents a later addition installed after the 2017 sale.

Its signature cocktail combines VSOP Guillon Painturaud cognac, Alvear fino sherry, and Angostura bitters.

A corner table in the Green Room was long favored by influential figures.

Santora noted that many state decisions were likely reached there through discussions among lawyers, judges, and governors, often sealed by handshake rather than formal courthouse proceedings.

The Brandywine Room once served as a post-dinner retreat for cigars, brandy, and card games.

It was previously called Peacock Alley, a fashionable spot for socializing.

The Christina Room, formerly the Club Room, preserves its 1913 wood paneling.

It continues to function as an event venue.

The carved woodwork includes handcrafted motifs of local wildlife.

Designs feature fish, pelicans, beavers, and other animals representing Wilmington port heritage.

A concealed passage within the paneling leads to The Playhouse theater.

The door blends seamlessly into the wall without handles. Guests could dine and then slip directly into the theater, described by Santora as the longest-running venue of its kind in the country.

Three Tiffany glass domes once illuminated the ceiling of the former Club Room.

They remain in place but were covered during air-conditioning installation and are no longer visible.