Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
4.5
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Once a Du Pont family country retreat, this estate's spectacular gardens surround a 175-room mansion housing the world's finest collection of American decorative arts from 1640-1860.
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- Jonathan MTuxedo Park, New York644 contributionsA Must for Fans of the Decorative ArtsWe were planning our next visit to this excellent museum even before we finished our first. The grounds are magnificent for a leisurely stroll (lush and green in July) and the Enchanted Forest was more enjoyable than expected. The house itself is a revelation, built into the landscape so masterfully that it is impossible to capture its gargantuan size from any angle. Within are artfully presented rooms of every kind of decorative art. The talented guides located in each room will rise to the occasion so ask them lots of questions. We liked to ask each one what their favorite items were and this would without fail lead to several fascinating stories. Allow a full day for the grounds, house, and adjacent permanent displays.Visited July 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 1, 2023
- Karen OStaunton, Virginia17 contributionsA garden jewel and outstanding museumThis has been on my "go-to" list for many years. The inclusion of a special exhibit with Ann Low couture dresses made it a must see. The exhibit is wonderful [would have loved an audio provided as there was so much to read]. The garden tram tour was informative and helped to appreciate the massive size of the property.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 17, 2023
- nj088762018Somerville, New Jersey23 contributionsA private tour with a great guide...Friends and I picked the wrong week to visit Winterthur as the regualar house tour was unavailable as the estate decorated for Christmas. No worries, though. As an alternative we were offered private tour with Tyler. He was excellent, knowledgeable, and entertaining, guiding us through "off the beaten track" floors. Be sure to tour the Ann Loud exhibit on display until January.Visited November 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 17, 2023
- Nancy A290 contributionsSimply MagnificentI was fortunate enough to get to Winterthur to see the Ann Lowe exhibit in addition to the home being decorated for the holidays. I'm not sure which one I enjoyed more, they are both fantastic. If you're anywhere near here, please try to go. You won't be sorry.Visited December 2023Traveled soloWritten December 9, 2023
- Gina CMullica Hill, New Jersey26 contributionsWonderful Experience!!We went yesterday (12/27) [our first time] & purchased a 'Senior Rate' General Admission ticket along with the additional Yuletide ticket that allowed entrance to all the exhibits, including the Anne Lowe, American Couturier stunning clothing designs. What an incredible exhibit. Don't forget to head to the 2nd floor @the Museum & Galleries building for her full display. There's also a display at the Library, all within walking distance of each other. From the Visitors entrance when you first arrive, ask where the walkway is located to get you to the Brown center to see the amazing Train display. (their map wasn't very clear as to how to find the walkway) - There's also a free shuttle that can take you from building to building. The museum store was really nice! and all their Christmas items are 50% off with some amazing decorations. They DO have an open air shuttle that takes you for a full half hour ride around the grounds. But we'll save that opportunity for the Spring when the weather is nice :) --Visited December 2023Traveled with friendsWritten December 28, 2023
- BlondeOnaBikeBethlehem, Pennsylvania257 contributionsInsanely CrowdedI happened to be in the area and decided to stop and see their winter lights display. I have gone numerous times in the past and was looking forward to it. Not thinking about timing, I was there between Christmas and New Years when many people are off work and school. To say it was crowded is an understatement. It was mobbed even with timed entry tickets. The number of screaming children, running in every direction, with inattentive parents essentially ruined the experience. Trying to go through the conservatory and other buildings was like being on a conga line. I ended up leaving within an hour of my arrival and now know not to go at that time again. The first 2 weeks in December, mid-week, is the better time.Visited December 2023Traveled with friendsWritten January 1, 2024
- AggieJoe79Haymarket, Virginia963 contributionsIt's interesting to see how the wealthy lived!We have had many friends that suggested we should visit Winterthur (especially friends in the garden club). We are just two hours away from our home in Virgina/DC area, so it is not too far a drive for a day trip. The Dupont family created a wonderful museum/garden/library nestled in beautiful area in which their family lived. This is a great place to walk and see the garden sites (they have buses too). The museum has a wide range of things to see, largely from the items the Dupont's collected. This is worth seeing, especially in various times of the seasons.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 2, 2024
- jerrys01Bel Air, Maryland621 contributionsBeautiful gardens and homeWinterthur was one of the two top priorities my wife and I wanted to visit during our trip to Wilmington. Our timing was very good, as a garden tram tour started within minutes of us entering the estate. The guide was very enthusiastic as she discussed the gardens, meadows, woods, etc., on the property. We also spent time viewing the main residence, which was filled with objects (art, furniture, etc.). I found the house very interesting. We also viewed the galleries, where I enjoyed the furniture exhibits. We finished our tour by the reflecting pool, which was very calming. While you can tour in about three hours, if you want to spend some real time in the gardens and other areas, you might be better off spending a full day here.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 20, 2024
- luv4phoodMarietta, Georgia850 contributionsA real gem!To call Winterthur a garden is such an understatement. It is a garden with acres of manicured lawns and trails. We visited on what we expected to be a busy Saturday. We were surprised to find ourselves alone with lovely views of rolling hills and meadows without another person in sight. The azaleas were already done blooming for the season but we enjoyed the rhododendron and dogwoods. We also went on the home tour where the staff stationed in each room were happy to share interesting facts about the home and the items in each room. We did not use the tram that circulates around the property but it would be convenient for anyone unable to walk long distances.Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 5, 2024
- Sheltered21 contributionsOasis of beauty.My husband and I absolutely love this place. We travel from NJ a few times a year, trying to hit every season because every season holds reveals a different array of flowers. We love the team tour which gives all of the highlights and history of the mansion and surrounding grounds. Louise is the absolute best tour guide. She has such a personality and passion, and is a bubbling spring of information. The mansion tour is self-guided but has historians available to answer questions in almost every room of the tour. The museum has various presentations; it’s different almost every time we come. We also appreciate the air conditioned shuttle (especially when it’s very hot) which drops and picks up at various spots throughout the day. Gifts shop and cafe are on site as well Everyone is pleasant and helpful. We would recommend Winterthur for all ages as there is an enchanted fairy garden for the children that young and old alike will love.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Sarah O
Scotland16 contributions
Jul 2020
As of July 18, 2020, the house is not open and the website does NOT make this clear. It's understandable if you need to close it during the pandemic (I didn't ask specifically why the house was closed when their gallery and gift shop, etc., were open). Traveled 100 miles plus to see the house simply to find it not open. They did give us vouchers to return when it is open, which is good, but I went back to look at the website and let's just say they are NOT being clear that the main attraction is closed -- although you can pay for a $15 "ticket" to see a rather inferior art collection and get access to the gardens (although they waved everyone through at the gate to the gardens, so I assume you could wander around for free right now anyway).
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Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so sorry that our website didn't make it clear that the house was in fact closed due to COVID restrictions. We do require a ticket to walk the garden at all times, unless you are a Member and then garden access is included in your membership. I will share your feedback internally, so we can improve on our visitors' experiences. We hope you do use your vouchers to return, we would love to have you visit and enjoy all that Winterthur has to offer.
Written December 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J C
26 contributions
Jan 2021
Need to stagger the house tour times if only 6 people allowed in at the time. They tell you to leave your coat in the car and then make you stand outside in bitter wind at your appointed hour to go in even though the conservatory/lobby only has one person in there so this needs to be mentioned on the website. Maryanne the indoor person did her best to ignore the people waiting and when I asked she said she could not let people into the lobby however there was still the tour group of 6 ahead of me when she let our 6 go in so there was no logical reason for her to keep us in the cold other than she could and she made a big display of wiping down everything and checking the computer it was very very poor service. Also it said self tour but there are docents at most stations so if someone ahead of you gets engrossed in what the docent is saying the person behind is left in an alcove and God forbid you go into a room against the arrows on the floor eve if NONONE else is in that room. It should be advertised that this is docent tour but better still let it be self tour you are only going around in a circle and why stand in room with other people during Covid when other rooms are empty. Plus more information needs to be given on what you are going to see. It says the place is 175 rooms but you only go to one floor maybe 5 or 6 rooms. Then the gallery is the same thing. Supposed to be all these collections but only one floor open and that turns out to all be about Mrs. duPont that's it. I advise people that this is definitely a buyer beware experience on the tours. The shuttle driver was the best thing about the experience. He was very pleasant and considerate.
Written January 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen123WV
Elkins, WV324 contributions
May 2022
The grounds are really quite nice with many different plantings and areas with lovely plants, flowers and trees. The house in not architecturally outstanding but the short tour was informative. There were docents in each room (the tour was only part of one floor) who give good information about the home and family. I would recommend a visit for those in the area and would suggested 2-3 hours for the visit.
Written May 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
v z
Pocono Mountains Region, PA31 contributions
Jul 2022
🌟🌟🌟🌟½
Take in ALL the tours, exhibits and flora & fauna of Henry Francis du Pont's museum, garden and library. Amazing collection of Americana & gardens.
Tram tours worthwhile. Guided & self tours a must. Check out any rotating displays.
(Jackie K's East room remodel currently 7/'22)
Some discounts available, ask at admission. *Blue Star Museum* Tickets good for 2 consecutive days
Not hard to "get lost" here. Cafeteria delicious, but a bit pricey. Masks required on mansion tours.
Take in ALL the tours, exhibits and flora & fauna of Henry Francis du Pont's museum, garden and library. Amazing collection of Americana & gardens.
Tram tours worthwhile. Guided & self tours a must. Check out any rotating displays.
(Jackie K's East room remodel currently 7/'22)
Some discounts available, ask at admission. *Blue Star Museum* Tickets good for 2 consecutive days
Not hard to "get lost" here. Cafeteria delicious, but a bit pricey. Masks required on mansion tours.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alpw
Placitas, NM2,194 contributions
Sep 2019
My husband and I were in Pennsylvania for the Celtic Festival in Bethlehem and we had a few extra days. We had been to Longwood Gardens and we decided to go to Winterthur instead. We took the introduction tour with a garden tram. This is not your typical formal garden, it's a nature garden. Nothing really arraigned, just natural. The intro tour included only the 5th floor of the house. Other tours took you on other floors. Only one room had the original ceiling. There are separate galleries with a self guided tour to changing exhibits. I'm not sure I would go back. I enjoy formal gardens more.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth S
Rising Sun, MD1 contribution
Dec 2020 • Family
The website advertised a Christmas light show and that if you did not want a guided tour you could enter the buildings for a self guided tour. After paying $25 per person we were shown a 5 minute stupid video projected on the side of the mansion, and were told we could not have access to any of the buildings. There were absolutely no Christmas lights on the outside of the house or trees on the paths. We had a timed ticket for 7pm and were told we could not come any sooner. This made it impossible to see where we were going since there were no lighted paths or Christmas light.
Written December 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so sorry to hear that you were unhappy with your experience. Your review will be shared internally, so we can improve upon our visitors' experiences. Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Written December 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ChrisH
Frederick, MD551 contributions
Oct 2022
Two seniors visited Winterthur on the Sunday of Halloween weekend and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There is a lot to see, more than we could accomplish in one day. We rode the garden tram from the visitor center to the mansion first. The operator gave a great 30 minute introduction to the whole site and is well worth taking. We had preregistered online for our 11am self-guided tour of the 4th and 5th floors. There are docents in almost every room eager to explain what you are seeing. Lunch is available back in the visitor center, a short shuttle ride away if you like. We had scheduled a 2pm “More to Explore” tour with 3 other people that ranged on several more floors and areas not currently open to the public. The tour guide was fantastic and the tour lasted over an hour. We spent the rest of the day in the actual Winterthur museum, so never had time to explore the outside grounds nor finish the actual museum. We plan on returning in the spring to see the outside gardens in their glory. Highly recommended, although we would not bring very young children here as they most likely would be bored.
Written November 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anonymous855
Trabuco Canyon, California1,736 contributions
Sep 2022
I spent a lot of time at home planning my visit as there were an overwhelming amount of choices, some included others at an additional cost. I determined that the tram (garden tour) was the first thing to do on arrival and I found out that there is a shuttle from the further out buildings that returns to the visitor center/cafe so I could easily come back here for lunch. Then I scheduled (Free) the self-guided tour when I estimated I'd arrive at that end. We came back, ate lunch and then returned to an adjacent gallery for the extra cost ticketed tour. It was all wonderful. There are so many gracious docents in the fabulous self guided part and the staff manages the number of people moving along so you're not smashed against others. The garden was sadly not in bloom when we visited in September. Our lunch in the cafe was delicious! The salad of the day was Greek and very, very good. The cafe was light filled and there were plenty of outdoor tables as well. Yummy looking desserts and other choices. Then we returned to the galleries via a shuttle with a very kind driver (we hardly waited for his arrival) and took a paid tour with only 4 of us and a brilliant guide. Gift shop was so-so in my estimation but a pretty building. I burned through an entire day and was too tired to re-walk areas of the garden I thought I might. Loved it! Tip: for the guided 4th & 5th floor tour you need to go into the mens or womens restrooms off the lobby to find the lockers where you leave all purses, jackets etc and don your mask. Camera ok
Written October 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffrey A
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Couples
We visited Wintethur October 28 2021. We paid $20/ea. Looked forward to a another grand house tour, with recent in-depth visits to mansions at Newport RI in mind. We started the tour of the 175 room DuPont home and 20 minutes later we were done, allowed to tour only 4 rooms, with one being the foyer. We visited 3 percent of the mansion. What a colossal waste of time and $40 total for both of us. We should have been advised that it was a limited four room tour and charged $5. We were scammed and will not be back.
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard H
UK4 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We visited 4 years ago, the last time we were in the area for Christmas and had a great tour of the house and decorations from a guide. This time, despite a 35% price increase since then, it was a self-guided tour that covered very little of the house and had no information about the history of the house or family. That's not to take away from the very interesting exhibition themed around Anne Lowe. It was also horribly disorganised on a busy, wet day, with no information provided when purchasing tickets that you need to wait outside in the rain for 40 minutes to get into the house. And for those sensible enough to purchase tickets in advance, there are no benefits - same price and you still need to wait in line at the visitor centre. All in all, a rather disappointing experience and not somewhere we are likely to return to until they up their service and provide more value for money.
Written December 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the tram heated during November, December?
Written November 25, 2022
How much time should we plan on spending here? How much does it cost?
Written August 28, 2019
There is a lot to see at Winterthur so plan for as much as you want to see. There are house tours, a 60-acre garden to walk through, galleries and exhibitions as well as a library. The tickets are valid for two consecutive days, so you can always split up your visit to see everything.
Written September 11, 2019
I see they sell tickets in advance for the introductory tour. Is it necessary to book tickets in advance? Or are people usually able to purchase tickets when they arrive?
Written June 24, 2019
You can purchase tickets upon arrival. However you may not get the tour time that you want.
Written July 20, 2019
pegibar1
Fairfax, Virginia
My friend and I came for the Yuletide tour and The Miniature tour. We would like to return. When is the best time to see the Spring Blooms. We would also visit Longwood while in that area.
Written January 24, 2018
With the late winter weather I would suggest mid April ! Spring will have sprung!
Written March 21, 2018
If you take the Amtrack train, what are the transportation options from the station? Will they let taxis drop you close by where you don't have to do extensive walking before you get to the house?
Written April 6, 2017
A cab ride from Wilmington's Amtrak station should take 15-20 minutes. It can drop you off at the Visitors' Center. (The cafe there is quite good.) There is a shuttle that takes you to the mansion.
Written April 7, 2017
What about self-guided Yuletide Tours?
Written October 22, 2016
I have not done the Yuletide Tour either. All of their tours have some things included and things you can do on your own. Check out their website for details. You will also see on their website offerings of discounts for certain events. I found them at the "bookstore". We ordered something in advance and then received a discount on admission.
Written October 23, 2016
We are considering taking a handicapped 90yr old here for her birthday in mid-December. Does anyone have experience with how well they handle complex visitors? Is it worth the hassle to visit in December?
Written September 10, 2015
Our Yuletide Tour is wheelchair accessible. It is a beautiful holiday tour and our most popular tour of the years, and we have the Tiffany Glass: Painting with Color and Light exhibition this year during Yuletide as well in the Galleries. The colors will be spectacular! We do have wheelchairs on site, but they are first come, first serve, and we do not offer reservations for wheelchairs. The garden is open if you want to walk through it but at that time of year, there is much blooming and it can be chilly. I hope this helps. Feel free to call 800.448.3883 for more information.
Written September 11, 2015
It depends on what time of year you are planning to visit. If it's nice out, you will probably want to spend quite a bit of time outside in the garden and take the tram tour, so that may limit how much time you want to spend touring inside. If you are interested in more than a general overview of the house, there are several great in-depth reserved tours you can take. Again, this does depend on what time of year you are visiting. The Fashionable Furnishings Tour and Winterthur Then and Now are both very popular reserved tours. You can visit the website for the most updated tour information.
Written August 24, 2015
The gardens are sprawling and more naturalistic than those at Longwood. THe owner was very interested in how to approach the landscape, hardscape and plantings and what he achieved fits well with the house and grounds.
Written January 15, 2015
Have tickets to Yuletide Tour @ 9:30 AM. What time should we arrive? What else should we do while there (definitely want to see the Downton exhibit), and in what order? (For example, should we ride the garden tram before the tour? Will there be more house to explore after the tour?)
Written December 19, 2014
Sorry that I've been away and just now saw this. If it's not too late, the only thing I would add to all this good advice it to visit the clothing in the museum addition, if you enjoy the Downton costumes. They are lovely, too! Bon voyage!
Written December 22, 2014
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