Buena Vista – New Castle, Delaware

Buena Vista – New Castle, Delaware

The name Buena Vista was given to this estate by John Clayton who had purchased the land it was built on in 1845.  He called it Buena Vista in honor of General Zachary Taylor’s victory during the Mexican War.

The tenant house, built on the right side of the lane as you enter Buena Vista, was built in 1858 in the English Cottage style. 

The estate stayed in the Clayton family for many years. The house was sold to Coleman DuPont in 1914 for $35,000. DuPont was the President of the Dupont Company from 1902 – 1915.  He then was elected to the US Senate in 1924 and was the founder of the Wilmington Trust Company.  He owned the estate until his death in 1930.  The house was then owned by Clayton D. Buck when he married Alice DuPont.  Clayton D.Buck inherited Buena Vista from his father in 1930. It is then that the prominent large wing on the south side of the house was built.

The Bucks sold Buena Vista to the State of Delaware in 1965 for $1.00 as per the will of Clayton Buck.

Buena Vista and its grounds now serve as a state conference center offering a variety of meeting rooms, modern communication capabilities and more.

Location: 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), New Castle, Delaware 19720

Phone: 302-323-4430

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