| Rodney Square Historic District | |
| Nrhp Type: | hd |
| Nocat: | yes |
| Coordinates: | 39.7458°N -75.5469°W |
| Refnum: | 11000522[1] |
| Designated Nrhp Type: | August 10, 2011 |
Rodney Square is the public square and historic district in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, United States, named after American Revolutionary leader Caesar Rodney. A large equestrian statue of Rodney by James E. Kelly formerly stood in the front of the square until it was removed in 2020. The square was created in the early 20th century by John Jacob Raskob, who worked for Pierre S. du Pont.[2] The City Beautiful movement served as the inspiration for the effort.[3]
In 1917, to make room for the Wilmington Public Library in the square, the 18th-century First Presbyterian Church was moved to Park Drive and the remains in the cemetery were reinterred in Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery.[4]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, as the Rodney Square Historic District.[5]
The eight blocks surrounding the square contain a number of downtown buildings:
| Name | Built | Architect | Style | Current Use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. M. Pei Building | 1971 | I.M. Pei | Brutalist | Multi-tenant office | |
| MBNA Bracebridge I | 1995 | BofA credit card headquarters | |||
| Delaware Trust Building | 1930 | Dennison & Hirons | Classical Revival | Condos and restaurants, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. | |
| DuPont Building | 1908 | DuPont headquarters | |||
| First & Central Church | Presbyterian Church USA | ||||
| Public Building | 1916 | Henry Hornbostel | Classical Revival | Law firm | |
| Wilmington Mansion | 1860s | Wilmington Club, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. | |||
| Wilmington Post Office | 1937 | Associated Federal Architects | Classical Revival | Wilmington Trust headquarters, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. | |
| Wilmington Public Library | 1922 | Edward Lippincott Tilton | Beaux-Arts | Library |
Rodney Square serves as a bus stop for several DART First State bus routes including 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 25, and 301.[6] From 1992 to December 2017, Rodney Square served as the main hub for DART First State buses in Wilmington. In December 2017, the state of Delaware under the direction of Governor John Carney eliminated the bus hub at Rodney Square by scattering stops throughout downtown Wilmington, removing 13 routes from stopping at the square. The decision to eliminate the hub was made in order to reduce congestion and overcrowding at Rodney Square. This action resulted in many riders having to walk multiple blocks to make transfers, and many of the new bus stops do not have shelters or benches. The Wilmington Transit Center was built as a new hub for DART First State buses adjacent to the Wilmington Train Station, opening in May 2020.[7] [8] [9]