The Ashland Nature Center brings together forests, meadows and wetlands across 130 acres along Red Clay Creek in Hockessin. This gives you a specific natural setting to consider when planning your trip, alongside places whose history ranges from colonial community life to school desegregation. You can tailor your stay to these different interests; a steam train ride from Greenbank to Hockessin also offers a distinct way to arrive.
Landscapes and the Protection of Native Habitats
The Ashland Nature Center encompasses forests, meadows and wetlands along scenic Red Clay Creek. The coexistence of these three landscape types gives Hockessin’s nature theme a tangible form: the focus is not just on open spaces, but also on forests and wetlands along the creek.
Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin is a botanical garden dedicated to protecting native plants and their habitats. Its focus differs from the landscapes at Ashland Nature Center: here, the emphasis is specifically on preserving native plants and their habitats. If you are considering Hockessin for its natural attractions, you can distinguish between its varied landscape types and the protection of native plants.
Meetinghouse and Local History
The one-story Hockessin Friends Meetinghouse, built of fieldstone, was constructed in 1738 and expanded with a side addition in 1745. In colonial Hockessin, it became a center of social and religious life. The building’s history and community life are intertwined: the meetinghouse is defined both by its early construction and by its role in everyday life at the time.
Another episode is precisely dated: on September 9, 1777, British troops under the command of Lord Cornwallis camped at the Hockessin Friends Meetinghouse while on their way to the Battle of Brandywine. This links the building’s history to a specific event in the Revolutionary War. It offers a different perspective on Hockessin than architecture alone: colonial community life and the region’s military history.
School History and Civil Rights
Hockessin School #107C, also known as Hockessin Colored School, was built in 1920 to serve the community’s African American students. Hockessin Colored School #107 later played a role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which desegregated schools nationwide. The history of this site therefore extends beyond local education to a decision of national significance.
In 2023, the state described the conversion of the building at 4266 Millcreek Road into the Center for Diversity, Inclusion & Social Equity. This later development adds another chapter to the school’s history. Together with its 1920 construction and its role in Brown v. Board of Education, it forms a timeline that may be relevant to travelers interested in the history of schools and civil rights.
Take the Steam Train to Hockessin
Steam train enthusiasts can travel from Greenbank to Hockessin on the Historic Red Clay, Inc. (Wilmington and Western) Railway. Alongside nature and local history, this offers a specific rail connection as a way to arrive. If you plan to take the train, it is a good idea to check the schedule.
The themes are easy to distinguish when planning your trip: Ashland and Mt. Cuba represent different connections to nature, the meetinghouse offers colonial community and architectural history, and the Colored School tells the story of African American education and civil rights. The train ride, meanwhile, is a separate option for traveling from Greenbank to Hockessin.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Newark, Claymont, Wilmington, New Castle, Christiana, Delaware City, Brookside, Brandywine
For the broader travel overview: New Castle County.
