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See the house presented as a home, entertaining space, and historic collection. This tour visits multiple rooms and floors of the house exploring beyond what is included in the general admission tour. Reservations required; capacity limited. For ages 8 and up. $15 with admission; $5 for Members.
Tuesdays–Sundays | 11:00 am–12:15 pm, 1:00–2:15 pm, 1:30–2:45 pm
We hope you enjoy all the special touches in this year’s Yuletide Tour. In addition to all the stunning trees and beautifully decorated rooms, numerous delightful or unexpected details are artfully tucked into our literature-themed displays. See how many you find!
1. “Tri-Sarah-Tops” dinosaur figurine named by one of our staff members. Yes, she’s hard to spot!
2. A tiny yeti (Hint: it’s hidden inside a wooden log)
3. Two vases with illustrations from the book Les Fleurs Animées, on loan from a private collector
4. A Cheshire Cat tree inspired by the mysterious grinning feline in Alice in Wonderland
5. A baby doll in a handbag representing Jack, a major character from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. Jack was found in a handbag at a train station, an incident that may affect his marital prospects.
6. A sailboat on a tree, inspired by the ships in Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick
7. The 11th edition of A Christmas Carol. Released in 1843, Dickens’s classic tale was such a bestseller that by 1846 publishers had to release an 11th edition.
8. The Tardis from the popular television series Doctor Who. Hint: it’s on a tree
9. The Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
10. Winterthur Farms milk bottles and a canister, a tribute to our historic dairy farm
11. The Winterthur guest book signed by H. F. du Pont’s guests, highlighting the social life at Winterthur
By room name and theme.
1. Montmorenci Stair Hall — The one with the grand staircase where you start your tour
2. Marlboro Room — The one about MacBeth
3. Empire Parlor — The one with Flowery mannequin
4. The fifth floor to sixth floor staircase — The one about Alice in Wonderland
5. Baltimore Drawing Room — The one . . . with the babydoll in a handbag!
6. Chestertown Room — The one about Moby Dick
7. Du Pont Dining Room — The one about Fezziwig’s Christmas party in A Christmas Carol
8. Georgia Dining Room — The one about “A Visit from St. Nicholas”
9. Latimeria Room — The one about Humpty Dumpty and Through the Looking Glass
10. Port Royal Entrance — The one with the purple cow
11. Port Royal Parlor — The one about The Great Gatsby
Our self-paced Yuletide house tour is offered Tuesdays–Sundays, 10:00 am–5:00 pm (last tour at 4:15 pm). Plus, on select Friday and Saturday nights we’re open until 8:00 pm (last tour at 7:15 pm) through January 4.
By Tyler Johnson, Winterthur’s Assistant Manager of Estate Tour Programs
The Winterthur Library is home to more than a million objects, books, and ephemera. Contained within this vast treasure trove are seven sketchbooks in watercolor, pencil, and pen and ink kept by German-born genre artist John Lewis Krimmel (1786–1821). The son of a confectioner in Württemberg, Krimmel emigrated to the United States in 1809 and began painting portraits, street scenes, and miniatures.
Krimmel’s paintings and sketchbooks are filled with his observations of daily American life and have been used in many interpretations across the museum’s history. Winterthur owns three of his paintings, The Quilting Frolic, Self-Portrait of John Lewis Krimmel with Susannah Krimmel and Her Children, and Election Day in Philadelphia. These works could each have their own blog post as they inspire many conversation points and discussion topics.
Special to the Yuletide season, one of Krimmel’s sketchbooks contains some of the earliest known depictions of Christmas trees in American art. His two Christmas Eve watercolor sketches show a multi-generational family gathered around tabletop trees (two trees in the first sketch, one in the second). Drawn between 1812 and 1820, they feature broadleaf evergreens, perhaps holly bushes, decorated with springerle cookies. The table holds plates filled with cookies and paper cornucopias stuffed with tiny treats which were left for the children by the Belsnickel, a Germanic gift giver, as their Christmas gifts.
Until the mid-1800s, Christmas trees in America were usually placed on tabletops. As in Krimmel’s sketches, the edible ornaments doubled as gifts, making the tree a one-day wonder. The trees were decorated in secret to surprise the children, who immediately devoured the goodies when they spotted them on Christmas Eve. Around the time of the American Civil War, people started combining gifts on the Christmas tree with purely decorative ornaments, heralding its transformation into an icon of the season.
Krimmel’s two Christmas Eve sketches are similar in scope but have some variations, especially with the young child and dog interactions. The first sketch features two small Christmas trees flanking a tiny house, while the second features one larger, taller tree, with many of the family members positioned differently. Each shows Krimmel’s penchant for capturing a special moment in time.
There are many early holiday traditions, and for people of Pennsylvania German descent, John Lewis Krimmel’s sketches display a staple of their holiday practices—a tabletop tree decorated with ornaments made of traditional sweets for an edible extravaganza. And family members of all ages enjoying the season and each other’s company in a delightfully festive setting.
For more information about John Lewis Krimmel, look for the book John Lewis Krimmel: Genre Artist of the Early Republic by Dr. Annelise Harding.
Opening May 23, 2026
Discover the many lives of Winterthur and explore the estate as a place of home, community, and inspiration. From a country landscape that supported hunting, gathering, and farming to its evolution into a renowned museum, garden, library, and center for conservation and academic study, Winterthur has been shaped by the people who called it home and work and by the community of visitors and friends who have come to experience its beauty. Through personal stories, rarely seen objects, and rich historical context, At Home at Winterthur invites you to reflect on what it means to create a place, to belong to a place, and to share in its legacy.
Opening September 26, 2026
In 2026, Winterthur Museum will celebrate its 75th anniversary—and America’s 250th—with a bold and beautiful exhibition showcasing more than 40 standout pieces from the collection, each chosen for its exceptional craftsmanship, inventive design, or use of rare or unexpected materials.
But this isn’t just about admiring fine furniture. It’s about rethinking what makes something a “masterpiece.” Through immersive displays and up-close looks at construction details, the exhibition invites you to explore deeper questions: Who gets to decide what’s considered great design? Whose stories have been left out? And is the term “masterpiece” still appropriate today?
Whether you’re drawn to the artistry of a hand-carved leg, the cleverness of a hidden drawer, or the cultural stories behind a chair’s design, Challenging Masterpieces offers a fresh perspective that celebrates creativity, identity, and the evolving legacy of American furniture—designed to spark curiosity and conversation.
By Evelyn Mason
The scent catches you first. It’s rich and velvety, full of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. Then, as you walk from the Galleries Reception Area into the Montgomery Room, you catch sight of it—a panorama of gingerbread trees, a train station, a train, and more, all in brown and white and vibrant red and green. This year’s gingerbread “house” is the historic train station at Winterthur.*
“Winterthur is full of stories—and each year I get to create a new one,” said Diana Anello, who made the gingerbread display for Yuletide. She headed up a team of six from Bredenbeck’s Bakery & Ice Cream Parlor, who spent more than 100 hours mixing, baking, and decorating the massive gingerbread creation. Made with 18 pounds of butter and 62 pounds of sugar, the finished creation, including a special support board, weighs almost 200 pounds. For the fourth year in a row, the bakery has collaborated with Winterthur to create a custom creation inspired by the estate.
Anello loves the fun as well as the challenge and frustration of trying to outdo herself each year. She started in early July, planning the design and figuring out the logistics. The display includes overpasses, plus extra lights powered by battery packs, hidden under the coal in a train and under a rock candy “puddle.” Some of the trees were made using snowflake cookie cutters and tilted on their sides, and others, across the display, are frosted in deep or bright green, flecked with white sprinkles. Snowflakes are scattered throughout.
Making a train from gingerbread was a first for Anello. She incorporated the Polar Express and added the W from the Winterthur logo to a train car, filling it with confectionery milk bottles and crates as a link back to Winterthur’s history as an award-winning dairy farm.
In one corner of the display, she crafted an illusion of an open book cover. Peering through, you can view the scene in a glance, like “a book that was opening up with the story coming out of it,” said Anello. “You’ll get my first impression of when we came to look at the railroad station.”
She wanted to create little moments and pay homage to the gingerbread houses of previous years, so there are elements from each. When you come to see it, look for seven hidden fairies with golden wings (Enchanted Woods), a vintage car (the mansion), and milk containers (dairy barn complex).
“I want to inspire other people to create gingerbread houses,” said Diana Anello. Come during Yuletide and see her wonderful, whimsical creation. You just might be inspired to craft a gingerbread display of your own.
*The Winterthur train station, situated at the back of the property near Route 100, served as a stop on the Wilmington and Northern Railroad and as Winterthur’s post office from 1900 to 1967. While freight trains still traverse Winterthur’s rails, they no longer stop at the station, which is now a private home for a Winterthur employee.
Recipes by our talented partners at Restaurant Associates.
Sip into the season with one of Winterthur’s signature seasonal cocktails—Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate, Chambord and Prosecco, or our cheerful Mistletoe Kiss.
Whether you treat yourself while strolling the Holiday Market or indulge from the comfort of home, each sip is an invitation to celebrate, slow down, and toast to the flavors, moments, and beauty that make this season so special.
A cozy, indulgent mug of velvety chocolate infused with peanut-butter whiskey and crowned with whipped cream — holiday comfort in every sip.
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Instructions
A sparkling, rosy-hued toast: red raspberry liqueur sweetened with agave, topped with crisp, effervescent prosecco.
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A bright and elegant blend of citrus vodka, elderflower, and white cranberry, garnished with sugar-dusted cranberries — light, festive, and perfectly romantic.
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November 22, 2025–January 4, 2026
Step into a storybook setting, where holiday magic, rich history, and beloved literature come to life. The Yuletide Tour features artful displays and beautifully adorned trees throughout the historic home, celebrating timeless tales such as A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, A Visit from St. Nicholas, and more. Whimsical treasures like a grand gingerbread replica of the train station, a magical dollhouse, and a toy train display add to the fun. Plus, join us for evening hours on select Fridays and Saturdays for candlelit tours, live music, cozy firepits, workshops, specialty cocktails, and seasonal fare in the café.
Learn more and plan your visit today!
Through a planned gift, you will align your legacy with Winterthur—an institution originally established through the legacy commitment of H. F. du Pont. Planned gifts support Winterthur’s sustainable future while helping you meet your estate-planning goals. Including Winterthur in your plans ensures that the irreplaceable treasures found here—in the galleries, gardens, and library—will endure for generations to come.
Planned gifts commonly include naming Winterthur as a beneficiary in your will or trust. You may choose to support Winterthur’s general operations or name an area of special interest. Bequests of any amount may be adjusted at your discretion.
When drafting or amending your existing will or trust, you may arrange for Winterthur to receive:
Winterthur may be named as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts, which can also be beneficial to your estate for tax purposes.
We always encourage donors to consult with your estate planning and financial teams to identify the giving solution that is best for you.
Please include:
Legal Name: The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc.
Tax ID (EIN) Number: 51-0066038
Address: 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735
Donors aged 70½ or older may make a gift to Winterthur directly from your IRA (up to a maximum of $108,000) without incurring income taxes on the distribution. This type of gift is considered a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) and can be a giving method that supports Winterthur’s mission while also providing tax benefits.
We always encourage donors to consult with your financial advisors to review your specific taxable situation.
If you choose to align your legacy with Winterthur, we ask that you please complete a Confirmation of your Legacy Gift form. This form serves to inform Winterthur of your generous intentions and ensures that your gift’s intentions are honored and upheld.
You may refer to the language below as an example of how you may phrase a bequest in your will or trust:
Sample Language for Bequest
I give [dollar, percentage, or asset list] to The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc., Tax ID # 51-0066038, a nonprofit organization located at 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735, for its general use and purpose/ other purpose.
Sample Language for Residuary Bequest
I give to The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc.(Tax ID # 51-0066038), a nonprofit organization located at 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735, the remainder of my estate/ ____ % of the remainder of my estate for its general use and purpose/ other purpose.
The Port Royal Society recognizes donors who have aligned their legacies to the mission and vision of Winterthur through a planned gift commitment. Port Royal Society members enjoy private events, behind-the-scenes access, and boutique programming designed to cultivate community and pique curiosity. Learn more about the Society’s benefits, events, and recognition opportunities.
For more information, please contact the Development Office at 302.888.4707 or plannedgiving@winterthur.org.
Are you planning to include Winterthur in your estate plans, or would you like to discuss giving in more detail? Please complete the fields below to arrange a conversation with a member of our Development team.
By Tyler Horne, Tour Programming Assistant at Winterthur
In honor of Indigenous Peoples Month, Winterthur is highlighting a remarkable side chair that tells a story of artistry, adaptation, and cultural exchange. The chair was made by Mi’kmaq artists in what is now Nova Scotia or northern Maine, sometime between 1850 and 1900. It features a seat and back covered in dyed porcupine quills that were carefully punched through birch bark to form bright geometric patterns. These kinds of quilled objects were often created for the tourist market, which means the chair also reflects how Indigenous makers navigated new economic realities during a time of colonial expansion.
Quillwork boxes in the collection are already a visitor favorite. People are drawn to their color, texture, and the way the artisans turned natural materials into art with real presence. This new chair joins those five boxes but stands apart as the only piece of furniture decorated with quillwork at Winterthur.
Quillwork is one of the oldest Indigenous art forms in northeastern North America and has long been practiced and passed down, primarily by women. While Mi’kmaq women made quilled souvenirs for Canadian and American markets in the 19th and early 20th centuries, chairs like this were never produced in large numbers, which makes this one particularly rare.
There is still much we don’t know about the specific makers of the chair and the quillwork itself. Even so, the piece offers a powerful window into how Indigenous artists have shaped American material culture. It reminds us that Indigenous communities did not simply endure colonial pressure. They adapted and created work that continues to inspire admiration today.
