Antiques and Horticulture - Winterthur Museum

House Museum

Jul 15

I have to start off by saying I did not expect what I saw at Winterthur. I had initially thought it would be a nice gilded age house museum, where you tour and admire different rooms filled with paintings and antiques. Instead, what I experienced in the former home of Henry Francis du Pont, was an extensive collection of American decorative arts in 175 rooms with over 90,000 individual objects on an estate with 1,000 natural garden acres of rolling hills, streams, meadows and forests. In phases, over years, the du Pont family transformed the 12-room, 3-story Greek revival family home into a showplace, and then H.F. du Pont opened it as a museum, sharing his collections with the public. He created spaces where you are fully immersed in the history as well as the beauty.

Also on the property is an extensive library available to researchers by appointment only. It is considered a world-class collection of rare books, manuscripts, works of art and photographs and there is a conservation laboratory.

H.F and his wife, Ruth, traveled to Shelburne Farm in Vermont to learn more about cattle-breeding from William Seward Webb and Lila Vanderbilt Webb. During that same trip they visited interior decorator, Henry Davis Sleeper, whose home inspired H.F. to start his own collection of Americana. The time-period themed rooms are outfitted with architectural elements salvaged from 17th, 18th and 19th century American homes. Once completed, Winterthur consisted of a 200-room museum, 2400-acre model farm, 23-acre orchard, 5-acre vegetable garden, 4-acre cutting garden, butcher shop, tannery, 12 greenhouses and dairy operation.

du Pont was appointed by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to lead her project to restore the White House. Together they transformed the White House from a mere public residence into a museum. Their restoration of America’s most famous house became a history lesson for the country and awakened an interest in preservation and interior design which is still felt today.

This is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy it!

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This is a shot of the stairway leading from the house to the pool area.

The entrance to the reflecting pool area, which was commissioned in 1929. Some of the ironwork was completed by Samuel Yellin.

A fountain in the reflecting pool area

The three circular grills house hi-fi speakers so music could be enjoyed in the reflecting pool area.

An Asian-inspired folly

The most formal landscaped gardens closest to the house were designed by du Pont with his friend Marian Cruger Coffin, the first woman to own a landscaping company.

Pictured here is Hippocampus, the water horse in the reflecting pool. This also served as a swimming pool and was heated and had a diving board.

An outside chandelier

Large carved wooden eagle on display in the Conservatory

A display showing a sample of Mr. du Pont’s collection and accompanying information

One of the stairways

Museum room display

This elegant free-flying staircase was acquired from a southern plantation home in North Carolina, and rebuilt at the house.

This is another view of the circular staircase, a striking architectural feature in the house.

Museum room display

The single action ram’s head harp by J. A. Stumpff

A chandelier detail

Pictured here is the Steinway grand piano, the centerpiece of the Chinese Parlor with 1780’s hand painted wallpaper.

This is a shot of the staircase in the New Exhibition Building.

The estate had twelve temperature controlled greenhouses.

Explore the garden on foot or on a narrated tram ride.

The paths are an integral part of the overall garden design, curving and meandering, drawing walkers into the garden and garden rooms.

The stone cottage in the Enchanted Garden, opened in 2001 and intended for children.

The garden “should fit in so well with the natural landscape that one should hardly be conscious that it has been accomplished”. - H.F du Pont

The woodlands and meadows are as crucial to the vistas as the formally planted areas.

“Color is the thing that really counts more than any other”. - H.F. du Pont

During my visit, I was only able to see a fraction of what was available with the time I allotted. I will definitely plan to spend the entire day on my next visit.

What you should know:

There are ten miles of roads and twenty-five miles of paths and walking trails on the estate grounds.
Picnicking is allowed.
There are many tour options; guided, self-guided and tours concentrating on specific rooms or themes such as conservation.
Grab and Go items are available at the Pavilion Cafe.
There is a narrated tram that tours the grounds.
Bicycles, kites, rollerblades, frisbees, skateboards and scooters are all prohibited.
Tickets can be bought on-line or in person.
Restrooms are available.
You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day.

Location: 5105 Kennet Pike, Winterthur, Deleware 19735

For more information: Winterthur