Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, The Atlantic Coastal Plain Travel Guide

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library offers a unique experience, blending American history, art, and horticulture. The estate was once the home of Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969), a prominent antiques collector and horticulturist, who transformed his home into a museum in 1951.The museum boasts a remarkable collection of nearly 90,000 objects of American decorative arts from 1640 to 1860, displayed within a 175-room mansion. Visitors can explore period-room displays and special exhibitions showcasing furniture, ceramics, glass, textiles, paintings, and prints.The 60-acre naturalistic garden is a highlight, reflecting du Pont's passion for horticulture and landscape design. The gardens feature a diverse range of plant species and garden designs, with formal gardens near the house transitioning into a freer Wild Garden style. Visitors can explore 25 miles of well-marked paths and trails throughout the estate's 1,000 acres of rolling hills, streams, meadows, and woodlands. The award-winning children's garden, Enchanted Woods, offers a magical space for kids to play and imagine.Winterthur also houses a research library with over 87,000 rare books and 800,000 manuscripts and images, supporting scholarship in American history, decorative arts, and culture. The library is open to the public by appointment.Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the house, garden, and grounds, as well as ongoing and special exhibitions in the galleries. Dining options are available at the Visitor Center Garden Café and the Cottage Café. Shuttles and garden trams provide transportation around the grounds, and wheelchairs and strollers are available for visitors.