Auburn Valley State Park

Auburn Valley State Park is a large woodland and meadow reserve featuring historic structures along the Red Clay Creek in Delaware. The grounds include a Queen Anne mansion and a museum dedicated to steam-powered vehicles and early automotive history.

The mansion was built in 1897 by Israel Marshall and remained in family ownership for over a century before being transferred to Delaware in 2008. The collection of steam vehicles was added later and documents developments from the early era of motorized transportation.

The Marshall Steam Museum houses a significant collection of working Stanley Steamer automobiles that reflect early innovations in motor vehicle design. Visitors can observe these rare machines and learn how engineers of that era experimented with steam-powered technology.

The mansion and museum are accessible only through guided tours, while hiking and biking trails are open daily for recreation. A small coal-powered train operates around the grounds and offers rides during special events held throughout the year.

The property contains rare vehicle models, including prototypes and test cars rarely found in private collections. These original machines show the experimental methods and technical limits of steam propulsion before gasoline engines became dominant.

Location: New Castle County

Inception: 2002

Website: https://destateparks.com/history/auburnvalley

GPS coordinates: 39.80920,-75.67970

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05