Model train display at the Brandywine Museum of Art (Courtesy of the Brandywine Museum of Art)
Led by regional historian Hayden Mathews, step into a world of elegance and holiday splendor in a journey through the historic Brandywine Valley, where the legacy of the du Pont family comes to life in grand estates adorned with holiday displays. Spanning Pennsylvania and Delaware, the region is home to some of the most opulent mansions and gardens in the country, each with a unique connection to the du Pont family. Known for their contributions to industry, innovation, and philanthropy, the du Ponts shaped the cultural and economic landscape of the region, leaving behind a heritage of architecture, art, and horticulture.
The tour’s first stop is the Hagley Museum and Library, birthplace of the du Pont legacy (and a Smithsonian Affiliate), where participants explore the original gunpowder works and the family’s first home in America, decorated for the season. Next, visit Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, the former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont, where holiday displays complement one of the finest collections of American decorative arts.
The Brandywine Museum of Art, housed in a historic grist mill, showcases works by the Wyeth family and features holiday decorations, including its famous model train exhibition. The tour concludes at Longwood Gardens, where more than 500,000 lights, spectacular fountain shows, and floral displays make for a memorable holiday experience.
Enjoy an overnight stay at the charming Mendenhall Inn, where you can relax and reflect on a day filled with festive beauty and rich history.
Know Before You Go
- Cost includes bus transportation, lodging, all activities, services of a Smithsonian study leader and representative, entrance fees, taxes, all gratuities, and all meals (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner).
- Overnight accommodations are at the Mendenhall Inn.
- Tour departs by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., NW, with a pickup at the DoubleTree Hilton, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland, at about 8:10 a.m.
- Single-room supplement $80 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Nonmember pricing).
- Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
- Detailed information is emailed to registrants about four weeks prior to departure.
- Participants are advised to purchase travel insurance for overnight and multi-day tours from a provider of your choice. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
General Information
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
