The Museum Collections

Enter the Winterthur mansion and become immersed in another place and time. This world-class museum, with its unsurpassed collection of antiques and Americana, is the ideal place to rediscover America's heritage.

Winterthur's founder, Henry Francis du Pont, collected antiques to furnish his elegant country home. Today you may tour the house to see the exquisitely furnished rooms in which du Pont entertained his family and friends in grand country-house style. In the inspiring architectural surroundings of the Period Rooms, you will view magnificent vignettes of antiques celebrating the finest in style and craftsmanship.

The permanent exhibitions in the Galleries at Winterthur invite exploration and discovery. From a collection of more than 85,000 objects made or used in America between 1640 and 1860, Winterthur curators have crafted displays that focus on specific media. Themes in each gallery are built around such questions as: How were these objects made? How were they used? How do we know what they are? Objects selected range from historic clothing and craftsmen's tools to exquisite metalworks, ceramics, and paintings.

Winterthur continues to build its collection of decorative and fine arts through gifts and bequests from generous friends and through purchases with funds raised by dedicated supporters, such as our Collectors Circle. Although Winterthur owns more than 85,000 objects, we continue to fill gaps in the collection by acquiring objects whose form, decoration, maker, or history is not already represented. Samplings of our newest treasures are on display in the New Acquisitions Gallery at Winterthur.