Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, The Brandywine Valley Travel Guide

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library offers a unique experience, immersing visitors in American decorative arts and a stunning natural landscape. The estate, formerly the home of Henry Francis du Pont, features a remarkable 175-room mansion transformed into a museum. Inside, guests can marvel at an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America between 1640 and 1860.The 60-acre naturalistic garden, designed by du Pont himself, showcases a diverse range of plant species and garden designs, reflecting his expertise in horticulture. The grounds also include rolling hills, streams, meadows and woodlands. Visitors can explore the award-winning children's garden, Enchanted Woods.Winterthur is also a recognized research center with a library dedicated to American artistic, cultural, social, and intellectual history from colonial times into the twentieth century. The library's collections support scholarship in various fields related to art and culture.Founded by Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur opened as a museum in 1951, with the aim of preserving the best of American style and craftsmanship. The name Winterthur, pronounced "winter-tour," comes from the small Swiss hometown of the family of Jacques Antoine Bidermann, who married into the du Pont family. Today, Winterthur continues to inspire and educate visitors through its collections, estate, and academic programs.