The huge DuPont family is descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, (1739–1817), a minor French aristocrat. The family has been staggeringly wealthy since the mid-19th century when they founded their fortune in gunpowder.
Among the pleasures of the family were gardens and collecting. Happily for their communities, largely in southern PA and Delaware, they were also into philanthropy.
I recently visited Longwood Gardens and Winthurtur, both developed by DuPonts though different branches of the family, some of whom spell their name with variations.
Longwood was originally home to the Lenape people. In 1700 a large piece of property was bought by the Peirce family who began developing a huge arboretum that ultimately deteriorated; when the trees were about to be cut down by a lumber company it was bought by Pierre S. Du Pont. Today 1,100 acres include huge gardens, some formal and others wilder; acres of flowers under glass roofs in conservatories and fountains with displays accompanied by music. 
There are walks, conservation programs, holiday events, special programs for kids and more. There is a large organ and a behind-the-scenes- look at its inner workings.
The gardens are gorgeous with different blooms depending on the season. You can walk miles or sit and enjoy sights in front of you. (I walked.) Lucky for me while far from empty the place was relatively uncrowded, perhaps due to my visiting on a weekday and some not wanting to fork over thirty to thirty-eight dollars for a ticket.
Pierre DuPont was president of DuPont from 1915 to 1919 and on the Board until 1940. He became president of General Motors and was on its Board. Married at age forty-five to his first cousin, Alice Belin, the couple had no children. Interested in education, Du Pont built many schools in the Brandywine area.
If Longwood is outstanding for its estate, trees and plants, Winthurtur, in nearby Delaware, is noted for collections. Owned by Henry Francis du Pont , a cousin of Pierre’s, it has incredible, enormous old-growth trees and a gigantic collection of well, everything: china, pottery, books, silver, furniture and more. The house, now a museum, contains 175 period-room displays and approximately 90,000 objects. To make space for his burgeoning collections, HF removed bathrooms and closets from the (large, not particularly beautiful) house. In 1951 The Galleries, a separate, purpose-built space that houses more objects and displays, was built. At a certain point I got furnitured-out.
There is a shuttle from the Visitors Center that winds through gardens and deposits you where you wish including at the house. Mike, my shuttle driver, described what we were seeing as “outstanding” or ‘amazing’ at least twenty times.
Both properties have cafes offering typical caffe food. Each also has a fine dining restaurant – if this interests you make a reservation well in advance.
It’s easy to see each property in a day. I’m still unsure of which I preferred as Longwood is more grand open spaces and Winthurtur more about the accumulation of beautiful ‘things.’ If you visit the area see both.
Recipes from the Du Ponts include macaroons which I’m skipping as my macaroon experience took hours and wasn’t very good. I may also not serve this drink which was called the Hotel Du Pont and served at the Wilmington, Del. hotel it is named for.
Hotel Du Pont Cocktail
- 1 ½ ounces V.S.O.P. Cognac, preferably Guillon Painturaud (a brand I don’t know)
- 1 ½ ounces fino sherry, preferably Alvear (also unfamiliar)
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Ice cubes, as needed
- Orange twist, for garnish
Combine Cognac, sherry and bitters in a mixing glass half-filled with ice. Stir until chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe (assuming you have one. If you substitute a regular glass the Du Pont ghosts won’t be bothered.) Squeeze orange twist over drink and drop in.
A votre santé as the Du Ponts may have said.