wilmington delaware garden tour

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Mt. Cuba is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

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Classes offered year-round. Learn to garden in harmony with nature, take an art or wellness class, and more!

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Mt. Cuba Center evaluates native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value.

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Mt. Cuba conserves and stewards more than 1,000 acres including meadows, forests, streams and riparian corridors.

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Gardens are open April to November. Visit us Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

Tips for planning your visit.

Mt. Cuba Center is a botanical garden unlike any other, conveniently located, yet a world away.

Take a virtual tour of our native plant gardens.

Schedule a 2024 tour or learn from an ecological gardening expert.

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See our amsonia trial, recent news, mt. cuba’s native plant research hits retail, upcoming programs, health & well-being tour: the benefits of experiences in nature.

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Wilmington Garden Day offers an opportunity to stroll through some of the Brandywine Valley's most enchanting gardens. Join us on this self-guided tour and plan a day that fits your schedule. Proceeds benefit St. Michael's School and Nursery, and the Friendship House, both supporting children and families in Delaware. Garden Clubs and large groups welcome!

CLICK HERE today to buy your tickets online for the Wilmington Garden Day 2022 Tour on Saturday, May 7 from 10 AM to 4 PM, Rain or Shine.

Starting March 28, 2022, you may purchase tickets from the following merchants (CLICK HERE)

"I attended WGD four years ago while visiting my son who lived in Wilmington at the time. I loved the tour!! My son has since moved to the west coast but as a treat for my birthday this year, my husband is bringing me back to Wilmington so that I can attend the Wilmington Garden Day!!" Bev Elmhurst-- Illinois

"I live in Chadds Ford and have attended Wilmington Garden Day for years. From pied a terre gardens to grand estate landscapes, there's always something new and interesting." Nancy-- Chadds Ford

"We've traveled from Toronto, Ontario to attend Wilmington Garden Day and Point-to-Point for two years now. It's such a fantastic weekend it's become our spring travel tradition!" Deb & Jim-- Toronto, Ontario

Gardens in 2022

Gardens are still being assembled for the 2022 tour. Please contact us with ideas!

The Delaware Art Museum and sculpture Garden will on this year's tour For Garden Day Visitors -     • Free admission to museum. Enjoy the special exhibition Eye on Nature; Andrew Wyeth and John Ruskin. Afterwards, take time to explore the museum or take a stroll through the Copeland Sculpture Garden.     • Special 25% off Membership discount. Membership includes free admission and access to the Museum’s vibrant and exciting exhibitions, programs, and events.     • 10% off lunch at the Museum Café by Toscana. The Museum Café features homemade sandwiches, fresh salads, delicious soups and deserts.

The garden gate will introduce you to a unique experience in the midst of the city. This is a wildlife garden, overflowing with attractions of plants for birds, pollinators, butterflies, and other creatures—and for people as well. The gate is surrounded by mature ivy, whose berries furnish food and leaves offer cover summer and winter. The purple metal numbers on the gate give a hint to the whimsical elements within, but the plantings all denote a seriousness about habitat creation and enhancement and a commitment to garden organically Throughout the garden, whimsical statues and ornaments peek through the plants. Birdhouses, both constructed and natural, abound. At every turn in this pesticide- free, organic oasis, the gardener has placed a gem, and both the creatures who live in this garden and the people who visit it find solace and pleasure within its walls.

Garden Preview - Prepare yourself for a revelation in the midst of a very traditional neighborhood characterized by tall hardwoods and under plantings of pachysandra. This garden is stunningly innovative and a complete break from its surroundings, yet its beauty is such that it turns the surrounding greenery into a subtle backdrop and enhances the whole neighborhood.

Garden Preview - Exciting things take place behind the traditional façade here. The first hint of this might be the stepped shelves tweaking the idea of a plain stone wall. In the fall, pumpkins stack up here; in the spring, look for fresh color and bloom. As to the house, it’s a friendly - and pet- friendly - household, where comfort and welcome co exist with practicality.

Volunteers help manage the flow of visitors at each house on the tour. Volunteers work either 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM or 12:30 to 4 PM. Shift volunteers may visit other homes on the tour, complimentary, using their wristbands.

CLICK HERE to volunteer.

Please contact us , to sign up as a tour volunteer.

To sign up as a tour volunteer, click here .

Other Events

Arasapha Garden Club --> May Market on Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6, 2022, click here to see deatils of the market. We're getting ready for a New Castle tradition - the annual May Market, taking place May 7 and 8. This open air event includes sales of unusual plants, herbs, artisan crafts, white elephant items and baked goods. It's a great way to meet new people, reconnect with friends in the community, and have a lot of fun! Email [email protected] to find out more.

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Wilmington, Delaware: A Legacy of Gardens

You don’t have to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to see magnificent estates and grand gardens like those in Europe. Wilmington, Delaware, has a legacy of gardens and mansions that rival these. And they have one family to thank – the du Pont family.

Wilmington has five major garden estates all created by du Pont heirs. A good place to start a tour of these is where the du Pont’s began – at Hagley, the black powder mill (gunpowder) that gave rise to the family’s industrial power and the DuPont Company. (You’ll notice the family name uses “du” while the company uses “Du” in its name.)

Hagley Museum & Library

Sited on 235 acres along the scenic Brandywine Creek, the Hagley Museum & Library tells the story of E.I. du Pont. He started the powder mill in 1802 after emigrating from France with his father, brother and their families. The extensive complex includes restored stone buildings that once housed the gunpowder manufacturing process.

Eleutherian Mills at Hagley / Terry Hurley

On the property is the first du Pont home and gardens in America – Eleutherian Mills. The Georgian-style house is filled with antiques and art from five generations of du Ponts who lived here. The gardens are a showcase of E.I. du Pont’s love of gardening and have been restored in a traditional French-style to the time of 1803-1834. E.I. was an avid botanist who imported many of his plants from France. He filled the square-shaped garden with flowers and edibles. One side is edged with apple trees in an espalier form. Other fruit trees are trained en quenouille, a French style of pruning that achieves a conical shape. Flowers and vegetables fill in the spaces throughout. The French influence is furthered with the use of parterres, espaliers and intersecting paths. Near the barn on the hill above the garden is a magnificent Osage orange tree over 300 years old.

The visitor’s center has three stories of local history. The largest collection of patent models in the country are on display. Plan enough time at Hagley to soak in the history, watch the demonstrations and wander the grounds, which today are a certified wildlife habitat. Pick up a copy of the wildflower guide to help you explore. There is an organic café on site and a free bus to shuttle you to the various buildings and garden. Special tours are available at Hagley by request.

Winterthur is the most extensive of the du Pont legacies. The estate started when E.I.’s daughter and husband purchased property from her father in 1837 and built a 12-room Greek Revival house. They named it Winterthur for the husband’s ancestral home in Switzerland. Future generations expanded the house and gardens, but it was Henry Francis du Pont (a great-grandson) who took it the level it is today. Under his guidance starting at the turn of the 20th century, the house grew to a 175-room, nine-story structure (the fifth floor is ground level with four levels below ground and five levels above) that he filled with his collection of American antiques. Make sure to schedule a timed-tour of the house (included in the admission price) when you first arrive at the visitor’s center.

Winterthur reflecting pool / Terry Hurley

Expanding on the du Pont family’s love of gardening, Henry (who studied horticulture at Harvard) transformed the grounds to include extensive flower gardens, greenhouses, and natural areas. Today, it is 60-acres of jaw-dropping beauty where everything is planted with a purpose, yet it looks like it has been there forever. Start your visit with the tram tour (part of the admission price) that takes you through the gardens and provides interesting stories about the property. You can walk to the gardens instead, but you will miss the commentary. The azaleas were brought here by plant hunters. The March Banks has millions of bulbs that bloom from late winter into spring. The magnolias were planted in the 1870s. The Pinetum is all conifers that offer a cool spot in summer. The dawn redwood tree just past the Pinetum was planted in 1951 and thought to be extinct at the time (but plant hunters found more in Asia.) The stories go on and on, as does the beauty of the gardens.

Don’t miss the reflecting pool and gardens at the bottom of the hillside below the house’s main level. These are not on the house tour or on the garden tram tour. To access these, go through the building housing the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens and then outside where you need to walk up and then down a massive stone structure of steps and balustrades to the reflecting pool. Plant displays fill the hillside and colorful planters line the pool. You can also access this area through the gardens.

Winterthur has several dining opportunities and a museum store (where you can buy honey from the estate’s apiaries), a bookstore, the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens, and offers many special events throughout the year. You should plan to spend the day here as there is so much to see and enjoy indoors and outside in the gardens.

Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens (actually in Pennsylvania, but closer to Wilmington) has been on my bucket list for years. It didn’t disappoint. It is breathtaking beyond words. It’s all about the gardens here, and you will hardly notice the home of Pierre S. du Pont (a great-grandson) who purchased the land in 1906.

A pathway in Longwood Gardens / Beverly Hurley

He laid out the first garden in 1907 – the 600-foot-long Flower Garden Walk that today is one of the most popular garden sections at Longwood. The flowers are displayed by color along the walkway, starting with purple and blue to pink and yellow and ending in white before you exit the garden into the woodland area.

Other gardens on the 1,000-acre property range from roses and peonies to wisteria, conifers, and an allée of catalpa trees. There is a dahlia trial garden, an idea garden, an edibles section, and a long fence covered by clematis of many varieties. The Italian Water Garden at the far end of the property is lined with European linden trees. The water display in the sunken area is patterned after one at the Villa Gamberaia near Florence, Italy.

The Conservatory (constructed in 1919-1921) is room after room of tropical plants from around the world plus an interactive children’s garden all housed inside the four-acre structure. Outside in summer is the most amazing waterlily display with aquatic plants from across the globe. You literally could spend most of your time here.

Waterlilies at Longwood Gardens / Beverly Hurley

The entertainment options at Longwood are extensive; organ concerts in the Conservatory, performances in the Open Air Theatre, music from the carillon, and local entertainment in the Beer Garden. The highlight entertainment is found at the Main Fountain Garden where dancing waters and music (with lights added in the evening performances) combine with technology and choreography to create an experience not found anywhere else in the world. Save time at the end for the gift shop, the nicest one in all of the gardens. Founder’s Weekend in July offers special behind the scenes opportunities at Longwood not available the rest of the year.

The Nemours Estate was created by Alfred I. du Pont (a great-grandson) and features a 77-room mansion patterned after Versailles in France that the recently divorced Alfred built for his second wife Alicia to win her heart (though this didn’t work.) When Alicia died he married an old family friend – Jessie – and they eventually moved to Florida where he invested in real estate.

Fountain at Nemours Estate / Beverly Hurley

The gardens Alfred developed include the largest formal French gardens in the U.S. and nearly 200-acres of woodlands and meadows. A sweeping lawn lined by Japanese cryptomeria, horse chestnut and pin oak trees leads you up the hillside punctuated by some of the grandest displays of reflecting pools, sunken gardens, fountains, marble structures, gilded statues, and plantings. You will think you are touring an estate of a European nobleman.

Entrance to the estate is via a shuttle that offers a narrated tour. You can hop on and off at select sites. The first stop is the Temple of Love with a bronze statue of Diana the Huntress. From here you can get back on the next shuttle or walk up the gently-slopping hill to the other structures: the Sunken Garden, the Colonnade, the Maze Garden and the Reflecting Pool.

A pea gravel path connecting these is lined with boxwood and lavender, and is punctuated with small fountains. Urns of brightly colored annuals, marble benches for resting, and more fountains make the walk a pleasure in this park-like setting. The Carillon Bell Tower is where Mr. du Pont is buried along with Jessie and her brother. Make time to tour the mansion for its impressive collection of furnishings and artwork. From here, the shuttle takes you back to the visitors center, which has an impressive history timeline of the du Pont family.

Mt. Cuba Center

Mt. Cuba Center is the estate of Lammot du Pont Copeland (a great-great-grandson of E.I.) and his wife. In 1935, they built a Colonial Revival home high on a hill where an old cornfield once stood near the village of Mt. Cuba, just outside of Wilmington. They too loved gardens and hired the top landscape designers of the day, Thomas W. Sears and formal gardens designer Marian C. Coffin. Years later they added naturalistic gardens for woodland wildflowers. The result is stunning.

Mt. Cuba Center formal garden / Beverly Hurley

The focus of Mt. Cuba is native plants displayed in a variety of settings. Mrs. Copeland was the driving force behind Mt. Cuba, and she directed most of the developments in the garden. The formal garden near the house (which serves as the visitor center) is a mix of boxwood allées, low stone walls, brick walkways, towering magnolias and conifers, plus well-sited plants, both native and seasonal, laid out with the symmetry and geometry of a formal style around a main lawn. The adjacent south garden is filled with perennials along a brick pathway. The round garden has a fountain in place of the former swimming pool.

Mt. Cuba Trial Gardens / Beverly Hurley

Mrs. Copeland’s cutting garden is now the trial garden where research is carried out on select cultivars of plants over a three-year time period. The results of these trials are then published and made available to the public. This garden also features an unusual lilac allée of French hybrids that bloom white to dark purple.

From here, the gardens take a naturalistic turn as several paths wind through the woodland canopy and end at the bottom of the hill where four ponds await. Along the way, native plantings go 25 feet deep on both sides of the path and are filled with blooms; ferns, trilliums, dogwoods, spring ephemerals, asters, grasses, and other native perennials.

Daily tours are offered, but you can wander the grounds on your own. Check out the website for classes and festivals offered at Mt. Cuba Center.

WHEN YOU GO:

Wilmington’s renovated waterfront along the Christina River is lined with restaurants and entertainment venues. At the far end is the DuPont Environmental Education Center , a four-story building with a panoramic vista of the marshland below.

DuPont Environmental Education Center / Beverly Hurley

An elevated boardwalk offers up close views of the tidal pond tucked into the marshes. Here you will find wild rice, pickerel week, swamp milkweed, cattails, and many other native plants surrounding the pond. The center offers nature displays and interactive programs like netting in the marsh.

Not far from downtown, Rockwood Museum & Park has a naturalistic garden in this former country estate of Joseph Shipley, a Quaker merchant who built his home here between 1851-1854. The Delaware Shakespeare presents live theater in the park each summer.

The Delaware Center for Horticulture helps keep the state green by beautifying public landscapes across Delaware. Their headquarters in Wilmington has a lovely collection of plantings behind the building, and even one in the median across the street.

Delaware Center for Horticulture / Beverly Hurley

If you have time, plan to visit several charming towns near Wilmington. Less than 15 minutes south is New Castle , once a prime river trading town founded along the Delaware River by the Dutch in 1651. Row after row of brick buildings line the streets of this charming historic town. It was an early seat of Delaware government and important in U.S. independence; the town and area separated from England two weeks before the Declaration of Independence. Several buildings with lovely gardens include the Historic Dutch House and garden with its parterre design of boxwood, plus a cutting garden and pollinator garden. The 1738 Amstel House has a Charles Gillette designed garden added in the back in the 1930s. Typical of his designs, boxwood and brick walls are prominent. On the strand overlooking the Delaware River, is the George Read House. George Read II was the son of a Delaware signer of a the Declaration of Independence. The garden at the side of the house has a lovely mix of flowers planted inside this brick wall enclosed space. If you are up for exercise, the Wilmington to New Castle bike path connects the two towns. The 7.9-mile path takes about 15 minutes to ride, longer if you decide to walk it.

Farther away is historic Odessa , an 18th century enclave with five homes on display. While most of the gardens are in a stage of renovation, the town is a step back in time as you stroll the quiet streets here.

Check out more about Wilmington at VisitWilmingtonDE.com .

Featured image – The main fountain at Longwood Gardens / Beverly Hurley — Beverly Hurley is the editor of  www.GardenDestinations.com and of Triangle Gardener magazine. When she is not gardening, she loves to travel.

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Plan Your Visit

Spend the day with us enjoying house and garden tours, world-class exhibitions, Enchanted Woods, and more. Winterthur offers a variety of on-site and virtual programs and events annually, including lectures, concerts, and live performances.

Take a look at our suggested itineraries so you can make the most of your day at Winterthur. You can read more about our handicap and accessibility features including shuttles, trams, and handicap restrooms using the link below.

Photography Notice

Upon entering the premises, you grant Winterthur and its agents the right to videotape, film, and photograph you, record your voice, and use your likeness in connection with the commercial production, and in the distribution, exhibition, and exploitation thereof.

For more information, please review our  Filming & Photography policy .

Create a customized itinerary based on your interests and timeframe.

Download a garden map or a trail map.

Download a map

Bring a picnic or purchase sandwiches, soup, sweet treats, and more from the Pavilion Cafe.

Winterthur recognizes the diversity of the public’s needs and is committed to providing excellent service to all visitors to the museum and garden.

Easily accessible by car, find GPS coordinates, directions, and traffic tips here.

Make Winterthur the centerpiece of an extended visit to the beautiful and historic rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley.

Featured Tours

Introductory House Tour: Contemporary Art at Winterthur

Explore how historic and contemporary art inform our understanding of the past and present in this self-paced tour. Through seven installations of work by contemporary artists also featured in the upcoming exhibition  Transformations: Contemporary Art at Winterthur , see rooms you know and love in a new light.

Guided Gallery Walk

Join us for a guided gallery walk of  Conversations with the Collections , the exhibition that explores how Winterthur staff and students use the museum collection to understand America’s material past.

More to Explore

Visit the multiple rooms and floors of the house on this 75-minute guided tour and get an in-depth exploration of Winterthur’s collections, historic architecture, and the lives of people who lived and worked here.

A Closer Look Tour

Let our guides show you their favorite objects, floors, and rooms. Every tour will be unique, so come often!

Focus On: Furniture

See distinct and fine pieces of furniture in the collection and hear the stories behind them.

Guided Discussion: New Perspectives

Join a roundtable discussion about collecting and conserving archival objects with a visit to the Rare Books Room in the Winterthur Library.

Discover the Winterthur Garden Tram Tour

See highlights of the garden and learn the history of Winterthur on this 30-minute narrated tour. The tour begins at the Visitor Center and ends at the museum. Stops include Azalea Woods, Magnolia Bend, and Enchanted Woods.

Best and Beautiful Today Garden Walk

Visit garden areas not seen from the tram route and discover what is “best and beautiful today” on a guided walk.

Conservation Tour

Tour the world-famous conservation laboratories where works of art and antiquity are examined, studied, and cared for by expert conservators. Graduates of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation care for the collections in most major museums in America.

Group Tours

Explore this place of beauty, history, and learning! Winterthur offers special rates for groups of 15 or more people. We are happy to work with you to customize your visit. 

360-degree Panoramic Virtual Tour

Explore dozens of Winterthur’s iconic rooms and acres of stunning Brandywine Valley landscape through Winterthur’s 360-degree panoramic virtual tour! Zoom in close to examine Winterthur’s unparalleled collection of American decorative arts and significant architectural elements, or take a wider view of the gorgeous landscape.

Open April 2 to December 30  Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last entry at 4 p.m.

Yours to Love and to Know

Explore the elegance of a 77-room Mansion, a Chauffeur's Garage with vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of French-inspired formal gardens, grounds and woodlands. 

Nemours Estate Opening Day

April 2, 2024 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us as we open our doors for the 2024 season. Visitors of all ages are welcome to experience the wonder of the beautifully decorated Mansion, which holds collections of stunning antique furnishings, technology and fine art. Rain or shine, plan to enjoy this special spring day in the gardens.

Getting Here

1600 Rockland Road Wilmington, DE 19803

The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Follow signs for Nemours Estate.

A Legacy for Children's Health

We share our campus and legacy with Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. The philanthropy and vision of Alfred I. duPont created The Nemours Foundation, which has evolved into one of the largest children’s health systems in the country today. No matter how small or large, your gift is vital to our mission of helping and healing children.

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DuPont Home & Gardens

High on a bank of the Brandywine River overlooking the original powder mills, E. I. du Pont, founder of the DuPont Company, built his home. For almost a century the Georgian-style home and surrounding complex of buildings and gardens served as the center of family and business life. Five generations of du Pont family members lived in the house since its completion in 1803, each leaving their mark. Today you will see it much as it was when the last family member lived there, filled with furnishings and collections of American folk art, alongside treasured family pieces and items brought with the family from France when they left in 1799.

The residence complex is a large, walkable area that includes the barn, the du Pont family home, the “First Office” of the Company, the E. I. du Pont Garden , and the Crowninshield Garden . 

The First Office of the DuPont Company was constructed in 1837 and remained the nerve center for the company for more than fifty years. An early typewriter, ledgers, and telegraph key reflect the business activities that were once housed in this building.

Be sure not to miss:

• The Conestoga Wagon in the barn used to transport black powder from the yards to the port of Wilmington for shipment
• Du Ponts Down the Road, an exhibition in the back of the barn featuring antique vehicles
• A stroll through the E. I. du Pont Gardens where the company founder enjoyed and experimented with his true passion—botany

Three Grand Estates to Visit in the Delaware Valley: Longwood Gardens, Nemours Estate, Winterthur

Three early 20th-century estates – Longwood Gardens, Nemours Estate, and Winterthur – are living legacies of the du Pont dynasty that are a delight to explore. The three estates include homes, furnishings, and richly landscaped gardens. All three estates are conveniently located within 10 miles of each other in northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania. These properties, each uniquely different, help tell the stories of uber-wealthy folks who acquired and managed large homes and vast acreage. My husband and I enjoyed our visits to these three amazing properties over two days.

Many in the prominent du Pont family were committed to historic preservation, had strong interests in horticulture and agriculture, and carried a penchant for philanthropy. This commitment to preservation and in shaping nature for pleasing aesthetic results is evident in these three properties that du Pont families enjoyed during their lifetimes and, later, opened to the public. Each property requires several hours to fully enjoy, so plan to spend at least two days if you plan to explore all three.

Two Day Itinerary Exploring du Pont Estates

My husband and I explored the three properties over two days. We visited Nemours Estate and Winterthur. located just outside Wilmington, Delaware on the first day. That evening, we spent the night at a hotel in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and visited nearby Longwood Gardens the next day. Of course, you can visit them in any order you want to — or just pick which one most interests you!

Day 1  

• Visit Nemours Estate, tour the mansion, and explore the gardens and grounds via tram or on foot. (Nemours is closed on Mondays.)
• Visit Winterthur in northern Delaware, a 15-minute drive from Nemours Estate. Eat lunch at Winterthur’s café in the visitor center or bring your own picnic. Tour the mansion and adjacent museum, and explore the grounds via tram or on foot. (Winterthur is closed on Mondays.)
• Enjoy dinner at Krazy Kat’s near Nemours Estate. Another option is Portabello’s in nearby Kennett Square (close to Longwood Gardens that is scheduled for Day 2).
• Check in at a hotel or inn in Kennett Square, PA (10 miles away).
• Visit Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA. (Longwood Gardens is closed on Tuesdays.)
• Eat lunch at Longwood Gardens (three dining options).
• Conclude your visit with a stop at a nearby museum or winery.

Who Were the du Ponts?

Éleuthère Irénée du Pont (E.I. du Pont) emigrated from France in 1800 with his family. Once in the United States, he began to manufacture gunpowder along the Brandywine River in Delaware. In subsequent years, the du Pont family expanded into other areas including chemical manufacturing. Over time, successive generations entered politics (several served as U.S. senators, and one as governor of Delaware); continued in the family businesses; served in other companies; and/or pursued philanthropic endeavors.

The three du Pont estates profiled in this article were created and/or developed by three great-grandsons of E.I. du Pont and are listed (in this article) in the order mentioned in my suggested, two-day itinerary. Nemours Estate and Winterthur are located outside Wilmington, Delaware; Longwood Gardens is north of Winterthur in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

• Nemours Estate , created by Alfred Irénée du Pont; 
• Winterthur , developed by Henry Francis du Pont; and
• Longwood Gardens , developed by Pierre Samuel du Pont.

1. Nemours Estate

1600 Rockland Avenue, Wilmington, DE | (302) 651-6912

Alfred du Pont (1864-1935) built this home in 1909 and named it Nemours after the family’s ancestral home in France. In fact, Alfred created this estate as a wedding gift for his second wife, Alicia Bradford, incorporating French architectural styles she so admired. As it turned out, Alicia died in 1920, and Alfred then married Jessie Bell, and they lived here until their deaths.

Alfred was a financier, industrialist, and philanthropist. He worked in the family’s gunpowder business until he was forced out of his role by a family relationship that soured. Following that, Alfred remade a fortune by investing and building in Florida, a new frontier (at the time) for investment to attract vacationers and other folks. According to Alfred’s will, the house and grounds were to be opened to the public following the deaths of him and his wife. (Alfred died in 1935, and Jessie died in 1970.) In addition, Alfred’s last wishes included the building of a children’s hospital, Nemours Children’s Hospital, that sits on land that made up the original estate.

What to See at Nemours Estate

Resembling a French chateau, the Nemours Estate includes a 47,000 square-foot home – with 77 rooms –  and is quite grand, incorporating many European design elements as well as furnishings. Alfred’s design included some new features for the time period including indoor bathrooms. Also, this mansion had a home office, a water bottling room, an exercise room, an indoor bowling alley, and a billiards room downstairs. The chauffeur’s garage was the first garage built in the state. It houses five vehicles: a 1933 Buick Coupe, a 1921 Cadillac Renault, a 1924 Cadillac, and two Rolls-Royces (1951, 1960).

The home and the 200-acre grounds are gated. Alfred acquired one entry gate from Wimbledon, England, and the other from Catherine the Great’s estate. The Versailles-inspired gardens cover about 15 acres and there are a couple of hundred acres of woodland and meadows. Granite was quarried from a Blue Granite rock area on the grounds and used in the house’s construction. From the mansion, stroll along the Long Walk to the reflecting pool and fountains (with over 150 jets). Also here are sculptures of the four seasons, the Temple of Love, and the gold leaf statue entitled Achievement . 

Visiting Nemours

• Nemours Estate is open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; it’s closed on Monday.
• Tickets are $20 for adults (discounts for seniors and military); $10 for kids aged 6-16: and free for younger children.
• A shuttle (golf cart) can ferry you from the entrance to the mansion. You can also request a ride from the mansion to the chauffeur’s garage. 
• Mansion tours are mostly self-guided with historical interpreters in the main rooms available to answer questions.
• Take the free, narrated tour of the property so you can see the scope of the land and manicured gardens.
• No food or drinks are available for purchase, so plan on bringing your own.
• If planning to picnic, bring a blanket; there are no picnic tables.

Tips for Your Visit

• When driving to the estate, you’ll be on the grounds of the Nemours Children’s Hospital.
• You can easily spend 2-4 hours in the mansion and the grounds which encompass elaborate gardens (inspired by Versailles), the chauffeur’s garage that houses five period vehicles, and a Sears Roebuck mail-order cottage that was built in 1915 as a playhouse for the children.
• The best view of the formal gardens from inside is actually from one of the guest bedrooms, the Gold Room.

2. Winterthur

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE | 800-448-3883  

Several generations of the DuPont family had a history on the estate. In the early 1800s, E.I. du Pont purchased the property for farming. His daughter later inherited it and built a house in 1839, naming it after her husband’s ancestral home in Switzerland. The estate changed hands several times within the family over the generations.

What visitors see today at Winterthur was mainly the result of Henry Francis (H.F.) du Pont’s (1880–1969) work on the property. Born at Winterthur, H.F. managed the family’s property for his father and inherited it upon his father’s death. His additions to the estate were the results of his studies of horticulture and agriculture at Harvard University as well as his European travels. His passions were gardening, collecting American furnishings and decorative arts, and breeding cattle on the property. 

Jackie Kennedy’s Visit to Winterthur

With his vast collection of early American decorative arts and furniture, H.F.  turned the family home into a museum in 1951; he and his wife then lived in a 50-room cottage he had built near the house. (The museum shop is located on the first floor of that cottage.) In the early 1960s, H.F. helped guide First Lady Jackie Kennedy in her extensive White House remodeling project. She visited Winterthur in 1961 to view the vast collection here and to discuss ideas that would work in the President’s house. H.F. made numerous visits to the White House during this time to confer with Mrs. Kennedy and her staff.

What to See at Winterthur

Today Winterthur is home to 90,000 decorative arts and furniture pieces in the home and galleries as well as 60 acres of gardens on the almost 1,000 acres of property. For the most part, the grounds are designed to look completely natural. There are no brightly colored annuals here. Instead, there are fields, water features, and carefully landscaped woodland. The prime time to see color on the grounds is from March through May when the azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwood, and wildflowers are in bloom. One space designed just for kids is Enchanted Woods with its Faerie Cottage, nooks to explore, and unique water features.

Visiting Winterthur

• Winterthur is open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; it’s closed on Monday. There are special days and hours during their yuletide season that showcases special displays.
• Purchase mansion tour tickets online prior to your visit to ensure you have guaranteed admission upon arriving.
• Admission is $22 for adults; $20 for students (aged 12 and older) and seniors (aged 62 and older); $8 for kids aged 2-11; and kids under 2 years old are free.
• Plan to arrive about 30 minutes before your scheduled mansion tour to check in and get oriented to all there is to see.
• You’ll enter through the visitor center and take a shuttle (or walk) to the Conservatory where the mansion tour begins.
• Free, narrated tram tours of the grounds are available.
• Winterthur’s website has suggested itineraries for your visit, depending on how much time you have to spend.
• Expect to spend 3-4 hours touring the mansion, museum, and gardens.
• Take the narrated garden tour on an open-air tram to learn more about H.F.’s vision for the property, his commitment to agricultural pursuits, and simply enjoy the expansive grounds.
• Plan to walk the property a bit — maybe to the reflecting pool outside the museum and to the Enchanted Garden a little further down the paved path. Winterthur has several walking trails ranging from about 0.5 to 2.0 miles each.
• The Visitor Center Café has a selection of grab-and-go fare (sandwiches, paninis, salads, and baked treats) and beverages (bottled water, soda, beer, and wine).
• If you prefer to bring your own food, there are several places to enjoy a picnic including the Enchanted Garden, Icewell Terrace, or outside the museum.
• The museum store is located near the mansion and museum (not in the visitor center), so stop in there after visiting the mansion and/or museum and before returning to the visitor center.
• Check online for a list of special events and tours.
• The extensive garden landscapes beckon visitors before or after visiting the mansion.

3. Longwood Gardens

1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA | 610-388-1000

Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property in 1906 that he would eventually name Longwood. Previously, the Peirce family owned the land and had constructed a house in 1730. That house still stands today, and visitors are welcome to tour it. Over the years, the Peirce family planted a large number of trees. By the turn of the twentieth century, however, the land had changed ownership several times, and the property had not been well maintained.

After learning that the trees would be cut down on the property, Pierre S. du Pont purchased the farm. In addition to serving as the president of E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. and General Motors, Pierre was a director and advisor to several other organizations. Pierre was so enamored with gardening and fountains that he incorporated many of his ideas, with inspiration from his European travels, in the displays that visitors see today. He set about improving the property, adding several features including the Conservatory, the Italian Water Garden, and the topiary garden. In addition, he expanded the house that he used as a weekend residence and a place to entertain friends. Longwood Gardens opened to the public in the 1940s. After Pierre’s death in 1954, the trustees of his foundation followed up on his wishes to lead Longwood Gardens into the future.

What to See at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens offers over 1,000 acres that encompass six districts: 

• Chimes Tower District (includes a bell tower and waterfall),
• Conservatory District (includes acres of gardens protected from the elements)),
• House and Theater District (includes the Peirce home and park), 
• Lakes District (has open space with paths),
• Main Fountain Garden District (classic formal gardens with fountains), and
• Meadow and Forest District (meadows and woodlands that are habitats for plants and wildlife).

Visiting Longwood Gardens

• Longwood Gardens is open Wednesday-Monday beginning at 10:00 am; closing hours vary by day. It’s closed on Tuesday.
• Purchase tickets online prior to your visit to ensure you have guaranteed admission upon arrival.
• Admission is $25 for adults;  $22 for seniors (aged 62 and older) and college students; $13 for kids aged 5-18; and kids 4 and younger are free.
• Longwood Gardens has special events such as Carillon concerts, fountain shows, and behind-the-scenes tours. Check their website for details and to purchase tickets.
• Longwood Gardens comes alive at Christmas with special displays and events beginning in mid-November through early January. Book your reservations online well ahead of time, if interested in visiting during this time.
• There’s an extensive gift shop in the visitor center.
• Longwood Gardens has several dining options. Choose 1906 (reservations suggested) for fine dining, The Café for casual fare, or the Beer Garden.
• If you’re wondering what plants are in bloom when you visit, check the Longwood Gardens website.
• Check the daily schedule upon arrival to learn the times of the various fountain shows. They may be a highlight of your visit.

Where to Stay and Eat 

There are some lovely properties near Winterthur and Nemours Estate, but my husband and I chose to settle for the night at a property in Kennett Square since that would be our destination the next day. Do an online search (like TripAdvisor) to find the location and property that fits your interests.

Dining Choices

For lunch, both Longwood Gardens and Winterthur have good options. At Longwood Gardens, head to The Terrace. Here you’ll find three dining options: 1906, a fine dining restaurant; grab-and-go options in The Café with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating; and a beer garden – sometimes featuring live music. Winterthur has a nice café with a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, and beverages.

For dinner, Krazy Kat’s is a good choice and is located near Nemours and Winterthur. Longwood Gardens’ three restaurants are open late on the evenings with later closing times (usually Thursday-Sunday). If overnighting near Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Portabello’s is another great dinner option.

By the way, the Kennett Square region is considered the mushroom capital of the country, accounting for around two-thirds of the mushroom production. Therefore, if you’re a mushroom lover, you’re bound to find a lot of dishes prepared with mushrooms while in the area’s restaurants.

Nearby Attractions

If extending your visit to the area, consider these articles about nearby places:

• Air Mobility Command Museum , Dover

Best Things To Do in Philadelphia

• Covered Bridges of Bucks County
• Delaware Beach Guide
• Museum of the American Revolution , Philadelphia
• Philadelphia: A Self-Guided Walking Tour
• Tyler State Park , Bucks County
• Valley Forge National Historical Park
• Washington Crossing State Park , Bucks County

Final Thoughts

The two days that my husband and I spent exploring Longwood Gardens, Nemours Estate, and Winterthur were so relaxing and enjoyable. It was fun to walk through the creations of the three du Pont visionaries who had the forethought and ambition to create such superlative lasting legacies that subsequent generations of the public have enjoyed.

Although all three properties are special in their history and design, the Nemours Estate was like a hidden gem because it’s probably the least well-known of the three. What made that visit especially enjoyable for me was that visitors are able to tour the public rooms used for entertaining and family life on the first floor, the bedrooms upstairs, and the basement where they entertained in the bowling alley and billiards room. Beyond that, today’s visitors can walk into Alfred’s office, his exercise area and showers, and the mechanical room. You can really see all the spaces and get a good picture of everyday life for the du Pont family and their staff. Outside, of course, are the grand gardens and the chauffeur’s garage.

Incidentally, other du Pont family members have played key roles in restoring other historical properties. Montpelier, the home of James Madison (fourth American president) and his wife, Dolley outside Charlottesville, Virginia is one such place. If heading to that central Virginia area, read my detailed visitor guide of Charlottesville to help you plan your trip.

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences from a visit to the Delaware Valley region. Your comments could help other travelers. 🙂

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