Press Release

What's New and Notable in Philadelphia's Brandywine Valley?
Winter 2005 And Beyond

PHILADELPHIA, October 27, 2005

Winter 2005-2006:
Longwood Gardens Celebrates A Century In Bloom
In January 2006, Longwood Gardens begins a year-long celebration to commemorate 100 years as the region’s horticultural hotspot. Festivities unofficially get underway in October 2005, when the garden unveils one of its largest renovation projects to date. The new East Conservatory will feature a half-acre "Garden Under Glass," complete with Mediterranean and subtropical-climate flora, year-round blooming plants, courtyards and fountains. The Music Room and Ballroom will be restored to their original 1920s splendor, and a new Organ Museum will showcase Longwood’s historic 10,010-pipe organ. www.longwoodgardens.com

Biking in Brandywine Valley

Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

Brandywine Valley Artist's Work On View In Pennsylvania And Delaware
Fans of Andrew Wyeth can view seven decades of the Pennsylvania artist's work during Andrew Wyeth: Memory and Magic, a retrospective exhibition on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from March 29 through July 16, 2006. The show features nearly 100 tempera paintings, watercolors and drawings from Wyeth’s personal collection. www.philamuseum.org. Wyeth enthusiasts can enjoy an art lover's perfect weekend by seeing the exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, spending an evening in city and then heading out to the Brandywine Valley, Wyeth's home and often the source of his inspiration. In conjunction with the show, the Brandywine River Museum, regularly displaying three generations of the Wyeth family’s work, will host special programming of its own. www.brandywinemuseum.org. In addition, the newly renovated Delaware Art Museum will present Something Waits Beneath It, an intimate exhibition featuring 32 seldom seen works by the young Andrew Wyeth, including watercolors and tempera paintings of coastal Maine and eastern Pennsylvania made from 1939 through the 1960s. www.delart.org 

Also New:
Hot On The Trail
Move over Napa Valley—the Brandywine Valley is fast becoming one of the premier grape growing regions on the East Coast. The six wineries (Twin Brook Winery, Folly Hill Vineyards, Va La Vineyards, Chaddsford Winery, Kreutz Creek Vineyards and Paradocx Vineyard) along the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail are geographically spread out, which allows a dedicated visitor to tour a large swath of this famous region. Travelers can visit each winery individually or purchase a passport for $20 that grants entry to all six wineries, plus a free wine glass. These wineries actively promote themselves as a group through free annual festivals, wine dinners, summer concert series and craft fairs. Notable festivals include Barrels on the Brandywine every weekend in March, the Harvest Festival in September and the Taste of the Brandywine in January. Winetasting Passport Packages, including overnight accommodations, are available as well. www.bvwinetrail.com

Expansion And Redesign Transform The Delaware Art Museum And Other Popular State Attractions
The Delaware Art Museum is bigger and better than ever thanks to a striking expansion and redesign that was revealed in June 2006. The museum now features two floors of new galleries, Delaware's first Sculpture Park and enhanced exhibition and education programs. In all, visitors can explore 17 customized galleries showcasing, in the inaugural year, thematic installations of the museum's renowned 19th- and 20th-century American art collections. Also for enjoyment are the DelArt Cafe & Outdoor Terrace, the Museum Store and beautiful outdoor spaces connected to the nine-acre Sculpture Park. www.delart.org.Also renovated and reopened in 2005: the Hagley Museum & Library, original home of the famed Du Pont family; the Mt. Cuba Center, a woodland wildflower garden; and the Delaware Museum of Natural History.

Evergreen Stories:
Walking In A Soldier’s Footsteps
The Revolutionary War took place against the backdrop of Brandywine Valley. In fact, there are more than 100 designated historic sites in the area. From Ft. Mifflin on the Delaware to the rolling hills of Chadds Ford and Concord Townships, the battlefields of the Brandywine Valley ran red with the blood of soldiers on both sides of victory and defeat. General George Washington lost many of his men on the Brandywine Battlefield, but he was also inspired by the patriots and ordinary farmers-turned-soldiers who became heroes as they stood and fought, side by side with signers of the Declaration of Independence. In truth, the war came full circle here, as the armies fell back in defeat from Philadelphia. They fought and retreated again at Brandywine, suffered through the winter at Valley Forge and rose up from the fog at Germantown to snatch victory from the depths of the darkest night.

Gardens Galore Add To The Beauty Of The Brandywine
Longwood Gardens heads a list of amazing botanical attractions that draw thousands of visitors from all over the country to the Brandywine Valley. It boasts more than 1,000 acres and 20 indoor gardens, plus dozens of seasonal events. In nearby Radnor, Chanticleer, a 30-acre estate garden, was recently featured in National Geographic Traveler as one of 22 fabulous "Secret Gardens" in North America. In addition, the area’s many arboretums offer hikes, tours, sales and events for all ages.

The Du Pont Family Legacy Lives On In The Brandywine Valley
The Du Pont family shared the risks and the rewards of making a dangerous living along the Brandywine River. From 1802 to 1921, the DuPont Company manufactured gunpowder at the Hagley property along the beautiful Brandywine. Over the years, there were more 291 explosions and 230 deaths, including family members. By taking such great risks, the Du Ponts became one of the most influential, well known names in the area, with direct and indirect ties to many of the region's prestigious arts and cultural institutions, including Winterthur, Nemours, Longwood Gardens, the Delaware Museum of Natural History, the Delaware Art Museum, the Brandywine River Museum, The Dupont Theatre and the Delaware Symphony.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) builds the region's economy and image through destination marketing to increase the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county region. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

CONTACT:

Donna Schorr, GPTMC
(215) 599-0782, donna@gptmc.com