America’s Versailles - Longwood Gardens

Historic Sites

Sep 23

Longwood Gardens consists of 1,077 acres of dazzling displays of great horticultural designs ranging from formal to natural gardens, greenhouses, meadows, and woodlands in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Pierre du Pont always preferred the quite, familiar beauty of the Bradywine Valley and was greatly influenced by his frequent travels around the world. He attended several world’s fairs and expositions where he witnessed grand architecture and the latest technology including the 1876 Exposition in Philadelphia and illuminated fountains at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Pierre was also exposed to a wide variety of gardens from Hawaii to South America, Florida, California, Italy and France.

Mr. du Pont was a success in corporate America, and this success brought great wealth. He felt a great responsibility to use it wisely and together with his wife, Alice, they gave generously to public schools, universities and hospitals, though gardening was Pierre’s lifelong passion.

Many generations contributed to the work it took to transform the Peirce farm, which du Pont purchased in 1906, into today’s Longwood Gardens (the name coming from the nearby Longwood Meeting House).

When first opened, there were eight indoor gardeners, eleven outdoor gardeners and groundskeepers and a Horticultural Department of twenty-nine, headed up by English gardener, William Mulliss.

Here is what caught my eye, hope you enjoy it!

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A view inside the Exhibition Hall, a perpetual garden of Eden

A view of the five-acre Main Fountain Garden which combines Italian ornamentation and the French grandeur with World’s Fair-style

Plants thrive as they climb up the walls in the Conservatory.

The Steinway piano in the elegant Music Room with walnut paneling and teak floors

The ceiling and chandelier in the Ballroom

There is every type of garden.

The Main Fountain Garden debuted in 1931, and was the last major project in the Gardens during du Pont’s lifetime.

The entrance to one of the original Peirce homes

This was part of Longwood’s first “winter garden” built in 1915.

The “winter garden”

Longwood Gardens also has extensive educational programs.

A view of one facade of the original Peirce house

The Meadows

The Italian Garden

The Italian water garden

The Love Temple on Large Lake

The 61-foot tall Chimes Tower is based on a structure du Ponte had seen in France.

The waterfall near the Chimes Tower

The Bonsai Courtyard

Wishing well

The open air theater was inspired by a visit to Villa Gamberaia near Florence, Italy.

In the indoor Children’s Garden

The Italian Water Garden

French architecture in the garden

The Waterlily Display originally opened in 1957.

Waterlily flower

Today, the same spirit that led Pierre S. du Pont to build this beautiful garden, inspires the present gardeners and researchers to strive for excellence in growing, breeding, and curating the plant collections.

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