Historic Odessa Foundation
Historic Odessa Foundation
4.5
About
Established in 2005, the Historic Odessa Foundation owns and operates The Historic Houses of Odessa, a 72-acre enclave of 18th and 19th century structures located in the town of Odessa, just two miles from DE 1 and just off U.S. Route 13 in southern New Castle County, Del. The historic buildings and gardens along with a well-documented collection of more than 7000 objects and furnishings offer a unique picture of Delaware’s colonial period in a rural village that played a vital part in America’s commercial history. The original town of Odessa, originally known as Cantwell’s Bridge, has retained much of its 18th century charm and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home to a National Historic Landmark, and two National Park Service Network to Freedom sites.
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4.5
34 reviews
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wildswanDelaware
Delaware559 contributions
Mar 2013 • Family
Little Delaware village of Odessa (just off Hwy. 1 enroute to beaches) boasts some wonderfully preserved homes from the 1700s, mostly right on/off Main Street and near Cantwell's Tavern, a restored, historic 'watering hole'... worth a detour!
Written March 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnBCowgill
Washington DC, DC760 contributions
Mar 2020
It is a real off of the beaten path treasure worth visiting. The tour guide was great, and there is much to learn from this place.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnBCowgill
Washington DC, DC760 contributions
Mar 2020
Delaware is a state that has many hidden historic treasures. This is one of them. The tours were great, and I had a great tour guide. Please note that there are stairs to climb.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HappyTraveler2007
Ohio41 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
Delaware is quirky in so many ways, often thanks to DuPont money, and this is no exception. The concept is that several houses have been preserved to their 18th century grandeur. We took our kids on the family haversack tour (the kids get haversacks stuffed with fun things to pull out at different points along the way - $18 for the family, an excellent bargain). We got to do two of the houses in depth. It's a great experience for the kids to immerse them in a little history. The docent was lovely. The tavern in town is excellent. And if you're headed back north toward Wilmington, you can take a scenic drive (marred only by the nuclear power plant cooling tower) on SR9. I really cannot recommend this highly enough. Two caveats: 1) not great for kids under age five; 2) not great if your kid has no attention span.
Written July 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pip1128
Dover, DE202 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
Lovely little historic town. You will enjoy the history and the architecture. I especially enjoy it at Christmas time. It is a nice break from the hustle and bustle. You will enjoy it! Do it!
Written May 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1DelawareGal
Middletown, DE54 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
Odessa is a quaint, beautiful town! Highly recommend a lunch or dinner at Cantwells Tavern. If you are able, do try to go to "Christmas in Odessa" the first Saturday of December each year. After 49 years, it really is a magnifect day to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. The Women's Club of Odessa does a remarkable job for this event. Private homes are open one time a year to the public for tours along with a craft fair, evergreens sale, choral program and beautiful bellringers concert. The Newark Fife and Drum Corp performs throughtout the town all day and evening. The day is filled with many wonderful events and displays. If you visit any other time of year, consider checking out a Historic House of Odessa Tour in which public buildings are open for tours certain days of the week. Small but very quaint town with so much character and beauty.
Written December 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
epicNewYork
New York City, NY35 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
This community is an act of love. The homes are maintained with a painstaking eye to detail by a group of dedicated volunteers. So much history and so much hospitality. We fell in love with this little village and its perfectly preserved history and homes. Don't miss this hidden gem.
Written May 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovetotrav0
Cresskill, New Jersey141 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
An intact 18th century town that . is well worth the visit. Tour is very informative and a nice tavern to eat at. Id come back at Christmas.
Written August 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please do join us during the holidays. It is spectacular.
Written September 15, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BotticelliDiva
Secaucus, NJ84 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
This is a must-see corner of the world to understand and appreciate period homes and gardens. The project is meticulously cared-for and beloved by the local citizens.
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation.
Written September 15, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BillF20639
Lusby, MD81 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
These restored 18th century homes of historic Odessa are well worth a visit. They range from a basic cottage to a huge manor house, furnished with many original pieces. Thanks to the small number of visitors (just my wife and I in our group) our tour was detailed and very personal. This gave us an impression of the distinctive Quaker culture of the colonial and Federal periods and their role in the Underground Railroad. Beautiful gardens on the shore of the Appoquinimink River were past their prime in September, but should be perfect from late spring through mid-summer. Holiday seasons including Christmas bring special programs. Check in advance for days and times of tours.
Written September 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Bill for the wonderful review and information about Historic Odessa.
Written September 15, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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