Winterthur Museum began as the home of Henry Francis duPont. He started collecting American antiques when he was 43 years old, and commented to his wife: “Everybody has English houses and half the furniture I know…is new. Since we’re Americans it’s much more interesting to have American furniture.” (p115, Jay Cantor, Winterthur). In 1951, his home opened to the public and he wrote: “I still live at Winterthur and my house is called that. The old now is now The Henry Francis duPont Winterthur Museum, and I am happy to say I don’t miss it a bit. It is right there beside me and I naturally can wander around it at will and still get things for it. I have all the fun without the work. Showing people around was getting to be quite exhausting and I am delighted that I have actually seen it finished.” (p.199, Jay Cantor, Winterthur). DuPont was 71 years old.
In May 2013 come and tour the former home of Henry Francis duPont and enjoy the largest collection of American decorative arts, displayed in 175 rooms on nine floors in a house nestled in a 1,000 acre estate. Not your average museum experience:)
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