Chateau Country - Explore the du Pont Legacy Trail

The duPont Legacy Trail epitomizes two centuries of du Pont initiatives, a result of their business success, philanthropy and land stewardship. Within the 12.25 mile trail on Rt 52 and meandering Rt 100, the traveler will find an unparalleled concentration of history and culture. This is the same landscape that captivated three generations of famous Wyeth artists. Magnifient du Pont country estates, quaint historic villages, glorious gardens, the finest collection of American antiques and the birthplace of our American industrial heritage – the whole history of America, social, economic, horticulture and art will be laid out before you as you travel the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley. Every season offers a wide variety of activities, tours and displays, but outdoor gardens are best in warmer seasons. A two day visit covers five major attractions.

DAY 1

Start: Hotel du Pont/du Pont Theatre

The Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway begins at the magnificent four star Hotel Dupont on Rodney Square built in 1913 by Pierre S. du Pont as part of the Dupont Company headquarters. This stop in downtown Wilmington gives travelers a sense of the impact of the Dupont Company on urban growth and industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries. Rodney Square developed as a center of civic activity and the monumental Hotel du Pont, reflected the stature that the Dupont Co. brought to the city. The Hotel is surrounded by blocks of original DuPont Company office buildings and Rodney Square is Wilmington's civic outdoor plaza. The DuPont Theatre presents the "Best of Broadway" shows September through May, and a Children's Theatre series from October to May. www.duponttheatre.com or 800-338-0881. Lodging and restaurants are available in downtown Wilmington.

If you have time take a side trip to the recently restored Wilmington Riverfront, originally a shipping port for goods produced at historic mills. Take in tax free shopping in outlet shops, dining in great restaurants or strolling along the beautiful Riverfront walkway. Parking is available at the Wilmington Riverfront just off of Martin Luther King Boulevard at several locations between the Amtrak train station and Madison St. Trolley service is available at Rodney Square to the Riverfront.

TIME : 45 minutes

Stop 1: Hagley Museum and Library

From the du Pont Hotel take Route 52 North. Turn right onto Route 100/141 at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine Church (built by the du Pont family in the mid 1800's). Go to the first light and turn right on Route 141. Go a few hundred feet to the Hagley entrance on the left. One way travel time is 11 minutes or 3 miles.

Hagley Museum is where the du Pont story began in 1803. It is the birthplace of the DuPont Co. Here, the du Pont family harnessed the water power of the Brandywine River to start their gun powder mills before the Civil War and built their first family home and gardens.

The whole history of the family, the mill workers and the Dupont Co. is laid out for the traveler here. Take a jitney tour and view live demonstrations of nineteenth century industry; a working millrace (See Photo 27) machine shop, and community life on Blacksmith Hill along the scenic and historic Brandywine River. Just outside the Hagley gate is historic Henry Clay Village, a favorite picturesque spot for artists and photographers.

TIME: 4 hours or more (You can spend a full day at Hagley if time permits).

Lunch Break

Have lunch at Krazy Kats at the Inn at Montchanin Village, in the shops in Greenville or picnic in Brandywine Creek State Park.

Stop 2: Delaware Museum of Natural History

Leaving Hagley Museum main entrance turn right on Route 141. Take a left at the light onto Route 100 at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine Church. Take a right at the light to get back on Route 52 North. (Route 100 dead ends at the light). Continue North on Route 52. The Delaware Museum of Natural History is on left just before Winterthur Museum and Gardens. Drive is 2.7 miles or 6 minutes from Hagley.

Visit the Delaware Museum of Natural History, founded by John du Pont to preserve wildlife through education and interpretation. He loved the natural world and built this museum to share his passion with others. As personified in this musuem, the du Ponts were as interested in nature and conservation as they were in history. Collections include over 117,000 bird specimens, the largest bird egg in the world, one of the top ten shell collections in the U.S., an African watering hole, a walk over the Great Barrier Reef, an introduction to Delaware's fauna and life-sized dinosaur skeletons. Learning is an adventure for children in the Discovery Room. The Delaware Museum of Natural History landscape together with Winterthur preserves some of the best views of the historic byway landscape on Route 52.

TIME: 2 hours

DAY 2

Stop 3: Winterthur, An American Country Estate

Winterthur is across the Byway from the Delaware Museum of Natural History. Leaving the Museum entrance turn left onto Route 52 north. Winterthur entrance is 0.4 miles on right.

The world class Winterthur Museum and Gardens with its unsurpassed collection of antiques and Americana, is the ideal place to rediscover America's heritage and the story of the du Pont legacy. Here history lives on in spectacular gardens, romantic landscapes, a 175 room du Pont mansion filled with decorative arts and a renowned research library. One hour guided tours interpret different aspects of du Pont family life at Winterthur; their antiques and art, their horticultural and agricultural expertise and their library and landscape design. Even the manicured osage orange hedgerow is historic

For a quick garden tour take the 30 minute tram ride through H. F. du Pont's naturalistic gardens and landscape to appreciate his first love of botany. The du Pont's were botanists first and became industrialists to earn a living. For children of all ages, stop at the Enchanted Garden, featuring a fairy festival and the Touch-It-Room.

TIME: 4 hours

Lunch Break

Eat lunch in the Winterthur Garden Cafeteria or in Centreville. As you leave Winterthur and head north note the historic Lower Brandywine Valley Presbyterian Church on the left and the historic row of Linden trees on the right just as you approach Centreville village. Just to the North of Centreville village note Oberod on the left, another du Pont family estate.

End: Longwood Gardens

Longwood is just beyond the Delaware Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway in Pennsylvania. Leaving Winterthur main entrance turn right onto Route 52 and go North to the Pennsylvania state line for 3 miles. (Note the historic "Line House" on the right that is both in Delaware and Pennsylvania). Continue on Route 52 in Pennsylvania for 1.75 miles to Route 1. Turn left on Route 1 travel 3/4 mile. Longwood is on the right. The trip from Winterthur to Longwood takes about 10 minutes (5.6 miles).

Longwood was purchased by Pierre S. du Pont as a residence, he designed and built the gardens from 1906 to 1954. Today, encompassing 1050 acres, Longwood Gardens is larger than Central Park and is one of the world’s premier horticultural displays. Enjoy Italian water gardens with elaborate fountains, outdoor ponds, landscaped meadows and a massive conservatory with breathtaking exhibits. Stroll the glorious outdoor gardens. Educational programs and events abound from flower shows to concerts, musical theatre and fireworks. Children can enjoy a boxwood maize. Learn about the history of the gardens and the du Pont family in the former residence of Longwood's founder. Dine in the Terrace Restaurant.

If time permits on the way back to Wilmington you could go boutique shopping in the historic village of Centreville or in the upscale shops of Greenville. Dine in one of the byway restaurants like Buckley's Tavern, Cromwells or the Columbus Inn. Stay at a quaint bed and breakfast or a downtown Wilmington hotel. If you need more time to take in this garden, larger than Central Park, Longwood stays open until 6 p.m. April to October and some evenings. November to March it closes at 5 p.m. except for holiday seasons and special events.

TIME: 4 hours