Longwood Gardens history
Longwood Gardens, located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, near the northern border of Delaware, stands as one of the premier horticultural display gardens in the United States and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from Delaware and surrounding states. Although technically situated across the state line in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens holds an important place in the cultural and recreational landscape of the broader Delaware region, and its history is deeply intertwined with the philanthropic legacy of the du Pont family, whose influence shaped much of Delaware's social, economic, and cultural development during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The gardens encompass more than a thousand acres of cultivated land, woodlands, and meadows, featuring elaborate fountains, conservatories, and seasonal floral displays that reflect over three centuries of landscape stewardship on the same property.
History
The land on which Longwood Gardens now stands has a documented history stretching back to the late seventeenth century, when William Penn granted the property to a Quaker farmer. For generations, the land was used for agricultural purposes, and it passed through several families before coming into the possession of the Peirce family in the early eighteenth century. The Peirce brothers, Joshua and Samuel, are credited with establishing one of the earliest notable arboreta in the region, planting an impressive collection of trees that would form the backbone of the gardens for more than a century. Their arboretum was recognized as exceptional even during their lifetimes, drawing travelers and naturalists who wished to study the rare and unusual specimens gathered from across North America and beyond.
By the late nineteenth century, however, the property had fallen into a state of neglect, and there were reports that the historic tree collection was under threat of being logged for timber. It was at this critical juncture that Pierre S. du Pont, a member of the prominent Delaware du Pont family and a leading industrialist, purchased the property in 1906. Du Pont's acquisition was motivated initially by a desire to preserve the Peirce arboretum from destruction, but his ambitions quickly expanded far beyond conservation. Over the following decades, he transformed the property into an elaborate pleasure garden drawing on design influences from European estates, Italian Renaissance gardens, and French formal garden traditions. Du Pont personally oversaw many aspects of the garden's design, working closely with landscape architects and horticulturists to realize his extensive plans.
Culture
Longwood Gardens became a center of cultural life in the Delaware Valley region during the early twentieth century. Pierre S. du Pont used the property to entertain guests on a grand scale, hosting outdoor performances, theatrical productions, and musical events in the gardens themselves. The outdoor theater at Longwood, which remains one of the garden's distinctive features, was constructed to allow performances amid living walls of vegetation, blending the performing arts with the natural environment in a way that was innovative for its time. Du Pont's commitment to integrating culture with horticulture set a precedent for the institution's programming philosophy that has continued under subsequent stewardship.
The horticultural education programs at Longwood Gardens have long held a significant place in the training of professional gardeners and horticulturists throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware. The institution developed formal programs that attracted students from across the country, and it has maintained relationships with universities and botanical institutions both domestically and internationally. Seasonal festivals, flower shows, and public education events have made Longwood Gardens a touchstone of cultural activity for Delaware residents, many of whom visit regularly for holidays such as the garden's celebrated holiday light displays during the winter season. The institution's programming has consistently sought to make horticultural education accessible to a broad public audience rather than limiting its exhibitions to specialists or scholars.[1]
Attractions
Among the most celebrated features at Longwood Gardens are its fountain displays, which Pierre S. du Pont designed and installed beginning in the 1920s. Inspired by the fountains he encountered during travels to Italy and France, du Pont constructed an elaborate water garden with multiple fountain systems capable of producing dramatic displays of jets, cascades, and illuminated water effects. The Main Fountain Garden, which was later restored and modernized in the twenty-first century after a period of reduced activity, is considered one of the finest fountain gardens in the world and remains a central attraction for visitors to the property.
The Conservatory at Longwood Gardens represents another landmark achievement. The original glass conservatory structure has been expanded and renovated multiple times since its initial construction in the early twentieth century, and today it encompasses a vast interior space housing collections of orchids, tropical plants, bonsai specimens, and seasonal floral displays. The Conservatory allows year-round gardening exhibitions that are particularly valuable in a region like Delaware and the surrounding mid-Atlantic states, where outdoor growing seasons are limited by cold winters. Additional attractions include the Meadow Garden, the Topiary Garden, the Italian Water Garden, and extensive woodland walking paths that allow visitors to experience the property's natural landscape as well as its cultivated elements.[2]
Getting There
Longwood Gardens is accessible from Delaware via several well-traveled routes, making it a practical day-trip destination for residents throughout the state. The gardens are located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, approximately thirty miles north of Wilmington, Delaware, which is the largest city in the state. Visitors from Wilmington and northern Delaware can reach the gardens in under an hour by traveling north on US Route 1 or via connecting roads through New Castle County. The proximity of the gardens to the Delaware border has historically made them a natural extension of Delaware's recreational and cultural offerings, and many Delaware-based schools, garden clubs, and community organizations have incorporated visits to Longwood Gardens into their regular programming.
Public transportation options from Delaware to Longwood Gardens have varied over the years, and visitors without personal vehicles are encouraged to check current schedules and available shuttle or bus services. The gardens maintain extensive on-site parking to accommodate the large volume of visitors during peak seasons, including spring bloom season and the winter holiday light shows, which consistently attract visitors from Delaware and across the region. Guided tours are available for groups, and the institution offers a range of ticket options suited to different visitor needs, including members who make repeated visits throughout the year.
Economy
Longwood Gardens functions as a major economic driver for the broader region that includes northern Delaware. The institution employs a substantial staff of horticulturists, educators, event staff, administrative personnel, and skilled tradespeople, and it supports numerous vendors, contractors, and hospitality businesses in the surrounding area. Visitors traveling from Delaware to the gardens contribute to the economies of both Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Delaware itself through associated spending on lodging, dining, and related activities during multi-day visits.
Pierre S. du Pont endowed Longwood Gardens with a substantial financial foundation before his death, establishing the Longwood Foundation to ensure the institution's long-term viability. This philanthropic endowment model, which was consistent with the broader philanthropic traditions of the du Pont family in Delaware, allowed Longwood Gardens to pursue ambitious capital projects including major conservatory renovations and fountain restorations without relying solely on ticket revenues. The financial structure established by du Pont has allowed the institution to invest in long-term horticultural research, staff training, and infrastructure improvements that keep the gardens competitive with other premier horticultural institutions nationally and internationally. Delaware-based foundations and donors have also historically contributed to the gardens' mission, reflecting the deep cultural ties between the institution and the state's philanthropic community.