The "Pierce-du Pont House" Story

The Pierce-du Pont home at Longwood Gardens

It was a ordinary day.  Standing in the pantry of the Pierce-du Pont house situated on the 402 acres of garden, woodlands and meadows known as Longwood Gardens in Kenneth Square, Pennsylvania.  Starring at the immense safe that holds the silverware and crystal collection of Mr. and Mrs. Pierre S. du  Pont.  

The entrance from the side of the house
is through the garden area

The house was built in 1730 by Mr. Joshua Peirce and was enlarged a few times by future generations of the Peirce family as well as by Mr. du Pont who purchased the property in 1906.  The property, now known as Longwood Gardens was home to the Lenni Lenape Native Americans for thousands of years.  

Mr. Pierre du Pont's office

They hunted the land, fished the streams and planted the fields.  In 1700 Mr. George Peirce purchased the 402 acres from William Penn's commiss- ioners.  It was George's son Joshua that built the brick farmhouse that we are now standing in.  In 1798 Joshua's twin grandsons began planting an arboretum with wild and purchased plants.  

A sitting room

The land soon became known as Peirce's Park.  Eventually the Pierce family lost interest in the land and it was sold several times until a lumber mill purchased the land for the trees.  On July 20, 1906 Pierre du Pont purchased the land to preserve the trees, and eventually began to transform the property for a place to entertain his friends.  Today Longwood Gardens conservatory, built starting in 1919 is one of the world's greatest greenhouse structures with 5,500 types of plants. The house we are self-touring has a wealth of history spread throughout it's walls and has many displays that allow you to view and read about the house.  The photos I have posted, with some dialogue, will help you see the uniqueness of this beautiful house known as the Pierce-du Pont house.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The pantry safe, sitting on the right of the photo, holds the silverware and crystal collection

A poster displayed tells about a visit from John Phillip Sousa and his band in 1930 

Pierre du Pont and John Phillip Sousa

Winding stairwell in the Pierce-du Pont House