An area of exceptional historical and cultural interest, the valley of the Brandywine River (where southeastern Pennsylvania meets northern Delaware) is a popular weekend getaway for residents of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.
Several sights are located in
Chadds Ford. The Brandywine Battlefield State Park was the site of an important Revolutionary War battle in 1777, where General Washington's Continental Army was bested by the British. After their defeat, Washington's forces waited out the winter in Valley Forge. Chadds Ford is also the home of the Brandywine River Museum, housed in a converted gristmill. It displays the artwork of Andrew, N.C. and Jamie Wyeth in addition to works by other artists. The N.C. Wyeth Studio is also open to visitors: The artist's workplace has been restored and includes paints, props and even an unfinished work on an easel. The Chadds Ford Winery is Pennsylvania's largest, producing more than 30,000 bottles of wine each year. Along with tours and wine tastings, the winery offers Summer Nights Under the Stars, a series of outdoor concerts.
Elsewhere in the valley, the Franklin Mint Museum in Media outlines the history of the commemorative coin and collectible manufacturer. Waynesborough, in Paoli, is a stone mansion from the 1700s that was once the home of Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Governor Printz Park is the site of the state's first permanent European settlement. And Longwood Gardens was once the estate of Pierre S. du Pont—its beautiful expanse of formal gardens, lakes and marvelous fountains is considered one of the world's premier horticultural display gardens.
Just across the state line in Delaware (near Wilmington) are Winterthur (a museum founded by Henry Francis du Pont that contains one of the world's finest collections of decorative arts) and the Hagley Museum, located on the site of a mill village from the 1800s (where the DuPont Co. got its start). The museum's exhibits focus on the evolution of U.S. industry. Brandywine Valley is 25 mi/40 km southwest of Philadelphia.
