WINTERTHSUR MANSION AND GARDENS

 Visited Winterthur mansion and gardens, the 175 room home of Henry Dupont in the early 1900s. It is a museum now and houses his collection of 85,000 items of Americana. Today we did some beaching at Rehoboth beach, Bethany beach and others.

COLD AND WINDY AND A LITTLE EARLY FOR THE FLOWERS BLOOMING.  TOOK A LITTLE TOUR CART AND THE DOCENT WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE BUT DON'T REMEMBER A LOT.  SOME OF THE TREES ARE 150-200 YRS OLD.  HARRY DUPONT LOVED BOTANY AND EXPERIMENTING WITH PLANTS AND TREES.  IN THE EARLY DAYS MR. DUPONT RAN A FARM WITH WORKERS LIVING ON THE GROUNDS.  HE BUILT A 12 ROOM HOUSE FOR HIS FAMILY AND ADDED ON 3 TIMES TO ACCOMMODATE  HIS ROOM COLLECTIONS.  THERE IS A MUSEUM NOW THAT HOUSES HIS NUMEROUS COLLECTIONS.....DISHES, SOUP TOURENS, TOOLS, FURNITURE,  

 MR. DUPONT DID ALL THE DECORATING HIMSELF.