Saturday, March 29, 2014

Visiting Winterthur: Part 1: Chilly Tour of Dormant Gardens, Museum

Winterthur Mansion
We visited Winterhtur on March 22 with our friend Cristina to see the Downton Abbey exhibit. We also toured the massive property (959 acres), a huge 175 room mansion and extensive garden (with over 2 million bulbs). 

CHILLY RIDE -  In order to get from the visitor's center to the mansion and museum, we had to ride an open-air tram that seated about 30 people. Because it was only about 45F outside, the wind chill from the drive made it feel like it was near 30F outside so we bundled up! 
The grounds are extensive
 

BACKGROUND -  According to wikipedia, Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is an American estate and museum in Winterthur, Delaware. . It was the former home of Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969), a renowned antiques collector and horticulturist. 

Tom and Cristina cold on the open tram ride of the grounds.
   In the early 20th century, H. F. du Pont and his father, Henry Algernon du Pont, designed Winterthur in the spirit of 18th- and 19th-century European country houses. The main building became a public museum in 1951.

  It had 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) and a premier dairy cattle herd when du Pont operated it as a country estate.

EDUCATION TIE-IN - The research library serves scholars from around the world, and a university has special educational programs that send students into the museum to refinish items, study the architecture, care for the items, etc. Winterthur sponsors two graduate programs with the University of Delaware.

We'll say this - there's SO much stuff in the house that it would take several universities to bring in their students to take care of things!!! 
 
NEXT: WINTERTHUR: "OF COURSE YOU KNOW THAT!"

Who I am

I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

A Classic Country Music Station to Enjoy