There have been many stewards of the land that is now called Longwood
Gardens. For thousands of years, the native Lenni Lenape tribe fished
the streams, hunted its forests, and planted its fields.
Pierre du Pont was born in 1870. His early years were influenced by the
area’s natural loveliness and by the du Pont family’s long tradition of
gardening. In 1907, Pierre laid out his first garden – the 600-foot-long Flower
Garden Walk, which is today one of Longwood’s most popular gardens. By 1916 he was contemplating grand indoor facilities. The result was
the stunning Conservatory, a perpetual Eden, that opened in 1921. From 1925 to 1927, Pierre constructed an “Italian” Water Garden in a
low-lying, marshy site northeast of Longwood’s Large Lake with 600 jets
in nine separate displays that shot from six blue-tiled pools and 12
pedestal basins.
In 1954, just three days after being awarded the Cravate de Commandeur
of the French Legion of Honor, Pierre died at 84 years old. With his
usual foresight, Pierre had in place a well-funded yet adaptable
mechanism for Longwood to continue.
The Longwood Gardens of today bears little resemblance to the farm that Pierre du Pont bought in 1906. With a yearly workings of nearly $50 million and a staff of
1,300 employees, students and volunteers, Longwood is continuously
evolving to meet the demands and tastes of the next century.
Spring a Longwood Gardens is a vision of bright colors and delicious odors!
Winter is a magical time!
