Schoonover Studios, Wilmington

Schoonover Studios in Wilmington stands as a landmark of American illustration and a living testament to the legacy of Frank E. Schoonover and the Howard Pyle School. Established in 1906 through the efforts of Schoonover and fellow illustrator Stanley Arthurs, with funding from philanthropist Samuel Bancroft, the building was designed by Captain E.L. Rice, Jr. in a simplified Queen Anne-or “Shavian Manorial”-style. It originally housed four studios, occupied by Pyle’s notable protégés including N.C. Wyeth, Harvey Dunn, Clifford Ashley, and Schoonover himself. Schoonover would remain the building’s only permanent resident, working in Studio Number 1 for nearly seven decades.

The studios were more than just workspaces-they formed a creative nexus during Wilmington’s golden age of illustration. Pyle’s influence had transformed the city into a national center for the field, drawing aspiring artists from across the country. Schoonover alone produced over two thousand works in his studio, eventually acquiring and preserving the building after the other tenants moved on. Following his death in 1972, a group of artists restored the structure, securing its place on the National Register of Historic Places by 1979.

Today, Schoonover Studios continues to showcase the art and history of American illustration, focusing especially on the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors encounter original works, memorabilia, and rotating exhibitions dedicated to regional artists and the broader tradition of narrative art from 1850 to 1950. The studio also offers art restoration and appraisal services, deepening its role as a cultural and historical resource.

Much of the space remains centered on Schoonover’s life and legacy, making it both a functioning gallery and a preserved artist’s atelier. As a result, the studios offer not only a view into the evolution of American visual storytelling but also a rare opportunity to step inside the very environment where some of the country's most iconic illustrations were created.