Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library

Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
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Name	Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
Established	1951
Location	Winterthur, Delaware, United States
Type	Decorative arts museum, garden, and research library
Founder	Henry Francis du Pont
Director	Chris Strand
Website	https://www.winterthur.org/

Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is a premier museum of American decorative arts, encompassing a significant estate, expansive gardens, and a major research library. Founded by the collector and horticulturist Henry Francis du Pont, it opened to the public in 1951 on the former du Pont family estate near Wilmington, Delaware. The institution is renowned for its unparalleled collection of American antiques displayed in period rooms, its 60-acre naturalistic garden, and its extensive scholarly resources dedicated to American art and material culture.

History

The estate's origins trace to 1837, when James Antoine Bidermann and his wife, Evelina Gabrielle du Pont, built the first core of the house. Their descendant, Henry Francis du Pont, inherited the property in 1927 and began transforming it into a showplace for his vast collections of American decorative arts, which he had been assembling since the 1920s. Influenced by early preservationists like Henry Davis Sleeper and inspired by institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, du Pont conceived of a museum arranged in authentic period settings. Following World War II, he formally established the museum, which opened in 1951. Subsequent expansions included the construction of a large museum building in 1969 to accommodate growing collections and the addition of the Copeland Lecture Hall and other facilities.

Collections

The museum's collection spans from 1640 to 1860 and includes over 90,000 objects. It is world-famous for its American furniture, notably examples by masters like John Henry Belter and Duncan Phyfe, alongside exceptional collections of Chinese export porcelain, silver, textiles, and painting. The approximately 175 period rooms, such as the Port Royal Parlor and the Readbourne Hall, are immersive installations that showcase objects in contextual settings. The collection also holds important works by artists including John Singleton Copley, Charles Willson Peale, and Gilbert Stuart, as well as significant holdings of Southern American furniture and folk art.

Gardens

The 60-acre garden, designed by Henry Francis du Pont, is a celebrated example of naturalistic American garden design. Organized as a series of "rooms" and vistas, it features a succession of blooms from late January through November, with highlights including the massive March Bank of cyclamen and glory-of-the-snow, the Azalea Woods, and the Pinetum. Du Pont collaborated with renowned landscape architects like Marian Coffin and was influenced by the principles of William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll. The garden is also an active site for horticultural research and conservation.

Library

The Winterthur Library is a major research center for the study of American art, material culture, and design. Its holdings include over 100,000 volumes, more than 500,000 manuscripts and images, and significant archival collections. Key resources include the Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera, the Trade Catalog Collection, and the Wintherthur Photographic Collection. The library supports the academic programs of the University of Delaware and publishes the scholarly journal Winterthur Portfolio. It is an essential resource for scholars studying topics from Colonial America to the Gilded Age.

Programs and education

Winterthur offers a wide array of public and academic programs. It partners with the University of Delaware to offer a master's and doctoral program in American material culture and a master's in Art Conservation. Public offerings include lectures, workshops, seasonal festivals like the popular Point-to-Point steeplechase event, and the Yuletide Tour. The museum also maintains an active curatorial fellowship program and provides extensive resources for K-12 education, aligning with state and national standards.

Governance and funding

Winterthur operates as a non-profit educational institution. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and receives funding through a combination of endowment income, philanthropic gifts from organizations like the Hagley Foundation and the Getty Foundation, membership dues, grants, and revenue from admissions and retail. Major capital projects and acquisitions are often supported by significant campaigns, such as those led by the Winterthur National Council.

Category:Museums in Delaware Category:Art museums in the United States Category:Decorative arts museums in the United States Category:Historic house museums in Delaware Category:Botanical gardens in the United States Category:Research libraries in the United States